Request
Dog Warden Service
- Does the local authority employ a dog warden or outsource the role? If the role is outsourced, who is responsible?
- What has been the local authority’s annual spend on the dog warden service for the last three years? Either for inhouse or outsourcing the role. 2023, 2024, 2025
Dog bites on authority workers
- Does the local authority have a documented standard operating procedure or policy regarding dog safety for workers visiting private property in the course of their employment? Please include both workers employed directly by the local authority and workers contracted to work on the authority’s behalf, for eg including, but not limited to, refuse collectors, social workers, housing officers etc.
- How many instances of dog bites were reported to RIDDOR (https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/) in the last three years by the local authority? Please indicate whether your available data separates workers from members of the public. If it does, please supply the two figures separately. 2023, 2024, 2025.
Response
Dog Warden Service
- There is no designated Dog Warden, Dog Warden duties are incorporated into the Environmental Improvement Officer role and the Council employ three in-house Environmental Improvement Officers.
- The Council does not hold this information as the costs are not separately identified.
Dog bites on authority workers
- Each department that has employees visiting private property will have animal/dog safety elements within their risk assessments. There is currently no standard procedure as risks are managed based on the work activities being undertaken.
- There have been no dog bites reported to RIDDOR in the past 3 years.