Date:
07/05/09
Your Ref:
Our Ref:
FOIR1169
Amanda Dunckley
Environmental Services
The Wellsprings,
Bolton BL1 1US
Tel:
01204 334011
Fax:
01204 336900
www.bolton.gov.uk
Dear Ms Dunkley
Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
In response to your request for information regarding, , Bolton Council is happy to supply the
enclosed information.
1) How many dogs have been seized by the council under Section One
of the Dangerous Dogs Act in each year from 2000 to 2008?
No dogs have been seized by the Council under section one, two dogs initially seized as strays
were eventually been dealt with by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended) one by s1 one b
s4b.
2) How many prosecutions under Section One of the Dangerous Dogs
Act did the council proceed with in 2007 and 2008?
The Council proceeded with one prosecution under section one of the Dangerous Dogs Act in
2007 but this was discontinued when the dog’s owner voluntarily signed it over for destruction.
3)How many dogs have been seized under Section One of the Dangerous Dogs Act so far this
year (2009)? Of those seized, how many have been signed over for destruction by their owners?
The Council have seized no dogs under the provisions of section one of the Dangerous Dogs Act
in this year. No dogs have been signed over by their owners.
4) How many applications have been made to the Magistrates court
under section 4b of the Dangerous Dogs Act in the last three years? Of those 4b applications,
how many resulted in destruction orders and how many resulted in registration onto the Index of
Exempted
Dogs?
The Council made one application under section 4b of the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2007 and this
dog was registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
5) How many dogs are currently held under Section One of the
Director of Environmental Services Malcolm Cox
Dangerous Dogs Act by Bolton Borough Council?
No dogs are currently being held by Bolton Council under section one of the Dangerous Dogs Act,
6) How many dogs have been handed over by their owners to Bolton
Council dog wardens as dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act - illegally owned pit bull
terrier types?
Bolton Council does not generally take dogs of any type handed over by their owners; owners
wishing to dispose of their dogs are advised to contact the animal charities and shelters. If however
the shelters refuse to take a dog and/or the dog is associated with another problem or complaint,
dogs will be removed to abate the problem (the owner is asked for payment but this is not always
forthcoming).This was done for one dog deemed to be of ‘type’ in 2008 and it was signed over for
destruction by the owner and destroyed.
7) How many dogs held as stray dogs by your council have been
identified as "pit bull type" during 2007, 2008 and so far this
year 2009? Of those stray dogs identified by council dog wardens as prohibited types-what
number were destroyed by Bolton Council?
Bolton Council held 14 dogs In 2007 6 dogs In 2008 and 3 dogs, to date, in 2009 which council
officers (see question 8) identified as being of ‘type’.
One of these dogs was the subject of 4b proceedings (see answer to question 4).
One of these dogs was to be the subject of s1 proceedings but was signed over by the owner and
destroyed (see question 2)
The other (21) unclaimed strays examined by our officers (see question 8) and believed to be of
‘type’ were humanely destroyed on the completion of the statutory holding period.
8) How are Bolton Council dog wardens trained to identify
prohibited types of dogs as defined by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
legislation?
The Council’s one dog warden has attended a two day course for local authorities run by Peter
Tallack (former Metropolitan Police).
Another officer in the Education and Enforcement Unit, with 35 years experience working with
dogs, has acted as an experienced witness regarding type in court in 2007 for both council and
divisional police and previously in the early 1990s for another local authority, his use has now been
replaced in prosecutions by evidence from a Dog Legislation Officer from the Bolton Division of the
Greater Manchester Police, who has taken the police course and who examines all dogs where
proceedings are taken, but this police DLO does not examine unclaimed stray dogs.
Should you have any queries regarding this, please contact me on the number above.
Yours sincerely
Paul Winnard
Environmental Services Information Officer
Direct Line: 01204 334011
Director of Environmental Services Malcolm Cox
Direct Fax:
01204 336900
E-mail:
[email address]
Director of Environmental Services Malcolm Cox
