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Hi! I’m Saffi the dog. I work with the Torbay Council Dog Wardens and my job is to tell people about what the Dog Wardens do. I can also give information and advice to people about how to take care of their dog. I’m a busy member of the team and if you would like to see what I get up to when I’m out and about in Torbay, check out my Saffi Cam, which is coming soon!
The Dog Wardens
So, do you know what a Dog Warden is? Torbay has two Dog Wardens called Janice and Dean. Janice the Dog Warden works mainly in Torquay, and Dean the Dog Warden works mainly in Paignton and Brixham. The Dog Wardens have a very busy job and they:
- Try to return lost dogs to their owners (they will do this by looking at the tag on the dog’s collar which should have the owner’s phone number on it).
- Take some lost dogs to a boarding kennel so that they can be safe and warm until their owner can pick them up.
- Work with the police to try and stop people having dangerous dogs.
- Walk around streets, parks and beaches to make sure that owners have control of their dog. Dean and Janice call this ‘patrolling’.
- Make sure that dogs are on leads when they are near roads.
- Give someone a fine if they do not pick up the mess after their dog has been to the toilet. If someone doesn’t clean up after their dog, this is called ‘dog fouling’.
Meeting a new dog
You might have a dog of your own, and if you do you will know it very well. Your dog might even look like me! It is important to remember that not all dogs will act in the same way that yours does, so I have some things for you to think about when you meet a new dog:
Only stroke a dog if you have asked its owner if you can
Why? Some dogs may not like being stroked by someone they do not know or it may frighten them. If you ask the owner first, they can tell you if it is okay or not and this is also a polite thing to do.When you stroke a dog, do not put your hand over its head
Why? Putting your hand over a dog’s head can frighten it.Never try to take a toy away from a dog you do not know
Why? The dog may not want you to do this and may growl to tell you it is unhappy.Don’t feed a dog if you haven’t asked its owner if you can
Why? Some foods can make dogs ill or the dog might even be on a diet!Never tease dogs
Why? Teasing people and animals can be cruel. It is unfair to tease a dog as it will not be able to understand what you are trying to do.Try not to run away from a dog you do not know
Why? Because it may think that you are playing and it might chase you.
Saffi’s Top Tips
If you have a dog, check out my top tips for being an Awesome Owner!
Give your dog enough exercise
The amount of exercise a dog should have will depend on how old it is, how big it is and how healthy it is. If you are taking your dog on a long walk, don’t forget to take some water with you so that it can have a drink.Make sure your dog is wormed
Dogs can carry very tiny worms inside them which can make them ill. The worm eggs can be passed on to humans, which can make them ill too. A vet can give your dog some medicine which will get rid of the worms, and this needs to be done regularly.Feed it
Most dogs like to be fed at the same time every day and different dogs will eat different types of food. It is important to make sure your dog has enough food, but not too much as it may get overweight.Show your dog you care – give it a collar and a tag to wear
It is very important to make sure your dog is wearing a collar with a tag on it at all times. The tag should have the last name of the owner on it, and a telephone number. If your dog is ever lost and someone finds it, they will be able to use the telephone number to contact your family. Most lost dogs that are not wearing a tag on their collar will be taken to a kennel so they can be kept safe while someone tries to find out who the owner is. It can cost a lot of money to keep a dog in a kennel and this has to be paid by the owner when they go to collect their dog.Keep your dog warm and safe
It is very important to keep your dog warm and safe. If you are going out for a few hours and plan to leave your dog at home, make sure that it has food, water and somewhere to sleep.Make playtime with your dog fun
Most dogs like to play. Playing helps to keep a dog’s mind active and will also help to keep it healthy. Remember that dogs like to have fun just like people do, so it is important to try and make time to play with your dog. If your dog does not want to play though you should not try to make it, as it could be tired, feel ill, or just not want to.Never leave any dog mess behind
When your dog goes to the toilet in a public place, the person in charge of the dog at that time must clear up the mess. When dog mess is not cleared up, people may step in it by accident which is not very nice. Dogs mess can make people ill so it is very important to wash your hands when you pick up after your dog. If a person is caught not picking up after their dog, the Dog Warden may give them a fine which means that they have to pay the council £75.
Dog mess can be picked up very carefully using a plastic bag called a poop bag. Poop bags have handles which can then be tied together to keep the smell in! Poop bags should be put in a red dog waste bin or a normal litter bin. If someone picks up their dog’s mess, puts it in a bag, and then throws the bag in a hedge or a tree, this is called littering. If a Dog Warden sees someone littering they may give them a fine.Train your dog
Training your dog is a good idea as it is fun, and will help your dog to respect you as its leader. You can read books about dog training and there are special classes which you and your dog can go to.Keep it healthy
Unlike people, dogs cannot tell us when they feel ill but they may act differently to how they normally would. If you think your dog is ill or injured it is important to take it to a vet as soon as possible.Hot dogs are not cool!
Never leave a dog on its own in a car, even if the window is open and there is some water. In the heat, the inside of some cars can get very very hot. Dogs left in hot cars can get very ill or even die. If you see a dog on its own in a car and you think it looks too hot or upset you should tell an adult in authority (like the manager of a shop, or a police officer) straight away.
Could you be a Dog Warden?
Would you like to try being a Dog Warden? If you would, you can play an online game where you have to stop and fine people who haven’t picked up their dog’s mess… just like Janice and Dean the Dog Wardens do.
Coming soon - Information for Teachers!
Related Websites
- Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
- Defra - Barking Dogs
- Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996
- Foredowne Kennels
- Pets Bureau
- PDSA - pets in need of vets
- The Kennel Club
- Pet Log
Related Tasks
- Apply - Dog Warden Service
- Consult - Animal Welfare
- Feedback - Comment on this page
- Feedback - General
Contact Community Safety
- Tel: 01803 208025
- Email: community.protection@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax: 01803 208854
