Personal Injury Solicitors

Thanet Council in Kent has announced it is launching a dog DNA registration scheme to combat the problem of pet theft, puppy farms – and dogs which foul public areas, putting others at risk of parasitic diseases such as toxocariasis.

The pilot scheme is a collaboration between the council, Streetkleen and BioPet Laboratories the focus of the scheme will be to gauge how a district-wide initiative can have a positive impact on communities through the promotion of responsible dog ownership.

The council says it will target Irresponsible owners who let their dogs foul public areas and do not bag and bin excrement, in a zero tolerance approach.

The campaign will also to raise awareness and carry out enforcement against offenders in a phased campaign over the next eight months, with the first stage being dog DNA registration.

The scheme is intended to contribute towards delivering one of the council’s key corporate priorities ensuring a clean and welcoming environment.

The council says visible effects of irresponsible dog ownership behaviour are all too easy to recognise and the underlying cost to business, communities and the local authority are now more clearly understood. It is expected that this scheme will help reduce these costs.

Thanet Council Cabinet Member for Operational Services, Councillor Suzanne Brimm, said:

“Dog DNA registration has been proven elsewhere to be very effective as the centrepiece of a zero tolerance approach to the minority of irresponsible dog owners who still don’t pick up after their dog.

“Thanet District Council has also recognised the wider benefits that dog DNA registration may provide – these include tackling pet theft through positive proof of ownership using DNA; tackling unscrupulous puppy farms through traceability of puppies; improved health and wellbeing for residents and visitors through reducing uncollected dog waste being encountered in open spaces, resulting in reduced prevalence of parasitic diseases such as toxocariasis.”

A pilot will be undertaken over a three-month period starting in April – it will take the form of a public consultation exercise and dog owners will be encouraged to voluntarily register their dog’s DNA free of charge (first 500 registrations).

This council says this will enable residents to experience the new service for themselves and ultimately contribute to its design.
The pilot will help assess the extent of irresponsible dog ownership across Thanet, so that the council has better recorded evidence of the issues and can take appropriate action.

Following the three-month pilot scheme, it is intended to review how enforcement action can be most effective, subject to evidence gathered from the pilot scheme.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors can advise those who suffer injury in unprovoked dog attacks on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation.

Dog bite claims have to be made within three years of injury – children can claim compensation for injuries sustained in dog attacks up to the age of 21.

In some cases it may be possible to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority if a criminal conviction is obtained against the dog’s owner.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on claiming compensation for injuries sustained in unprovoked police dog attacks.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Dog Bite Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.