New powers aimed at keeping public spaces cleaner and safer and tackling incidents of irresponsible dog ownership come into effect from April 1. Teignbridge District Council is introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dog fouling and control. Cllr Sylvia Russell, Teignbridge District Council’s executive portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “The PSPO will help us look after our beautiful environment by tacking action against a small minority of irresponsible dog owners who spoil it for others. The public told us they supported the principle of the order, something...
A Devon animal charity is taking in an alarming number of dogs that have never set foot outside a garden.
Some of the dogs rescued by Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary at Elfordleigh in the South Hams have not seen a lead, let alone walked to a park or the woods.
By the time they are brought to the sanctuary, some of these dogs will display defensive or aggressive traits towards animals or people, while others will be extremely nervous.
As National Walk Your Dog Day approaches on February 22, the charity is urging people to make time every day to walk their dogs, to...
You may well have heard of Guide Dogs, we’re a national charity working to ensure that people with a visual impairment do not lose their independence. There are around 2 million people in the UK living with sight loss, and all experience a different level of vision and mobility. We offer a range of mobility services to help people keep their independence, and have an amazing number of dedicated staff, volunteers, and of course, dogs who support the Guide Dogs mission.
Guide Dogs needs volunteers who can help look after and support the training of our guide dog puppies! This is a...
This winter, East Devon District Council’s Environmental Health team has been working hard helping people and businesses who care for dogs and cats to comply with new animal welfare legislation, which came into force on 1 October 2018. The legislation has been brought in to improve animal welfare standards, for example for dogs and cats being looked after in boarding facilities. The regulations also update controls governing dog breeding, pet sales and riding establishments. All premises to which the regulations apply will receive new licences by September 2019 and many have already been...
Teignbridge’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee have asked Teignbridge’s Executive to reconsider key parts of a proposed Public Space Protection Order.
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are broad powers which allow councils to enforce and manage anti-social activities within a specified area. They are used to help tackle persistent issues that are damaging communities.
A PSPO is being considered as a way to tackle irresponsible dog ownership and provide more consistent enforcement powers to deal with incidents of dog fouling.
The RSPCA received more than 300 calls - that’s two calls an hour - last week, during a mini heatwave which swept across England & Wales.
The animal welfare charity received 317 reports of animals in hot environments, the majority of which were dogs that had been left in hot cars, from Monday 28 May to Sunday 3 June - when temperatures hit the mid 20s. Advice is that people should contact the police on 999 if they see a dog in distress in a hot car but on average more than two calls an hour were still made to the charity.
The East Devon seasonal dog ban is now in force. The ban covers all of the town beaches in East Devon, other than some designated areas on each beach.
Dog owners, visitors and walkers are reminded to check on the council website at http://eastdevon.gov.uk/dogs/ if they are not sure where they can take their dog.
Cllr Tom Wright, East Devon District Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder said: “We want to keep our beaches clean and safe for everyone who uses them so even in the "dogs allowed" areas dogs must be kept under control, close by, and on a lead if necessary....
East Devon District Council has recently been contacted several times by members of the public reporting problems caused by dogs being exercised without lead restraint in The Byes, Sidmouth.
From the information received, it appears that the dogs in question are not sufficiently well trained to be walked safely without a lead. In one incident, on Christmas Day, a person walking two large dogs behind Sidmouth College was unable to prevent them jumping up and frightening a girl walking with her family.
On Christmas Eve, a local resident reported that an Alsatian in an orange...
Police are appealing to the public for information following several reports of theft of dogs from North and South Molton.
The first incident happened at the kennels on The Square in North Molton on Friday 15 December between 9am and 5pm.
Three dogs were all pedigree cocker spaniels. The first dog was a small female seven-year-old black Devonshire Faith spaniel, the second dog was an 18-month-old black Hillside Harriet female with a white bib, and the third dog was a gold Badgeberry Troufseau Hope spaniel. It is believed that a person or persons unknown entered the kennels...
With nearly half of all dogs in the UK (45%) showing signs of anxiety when they hear fireworks, the RSPCA has published some simple guidelines and a Pets & Fireworks video on how to help pets feel safe.
Whether it’s a dog, a cat or another little pet, planning ahead can pay dividends.
Make sure your dog or cat has somewhere to hide - perhaps under some furniture or in a cupboard - and can get to it at any time.
Ensure your pet is kept in a safe and secure environment and can’t escape
Make sure your pets are microchipped in case they do
