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Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues

Dog-Related Issues

Our Community Protection and Enforcement Officers conduct the duties of a District Dog Warden. They are empowered to deal with issues related to dog control, irresponsible dog ownership and are authorised to collect, seize and hold any dog believed to be a stray.

Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs

Following the UK government's change in legislation, XL Bully dogs have been added to the list of banned dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

To help current owners adapt to the new laws, these changes will come into force in 2 stages.

From 31 December 2023, it will be against the law to:

  • sell an XL Bully dog

  • abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray

  • give away an XL Bully dog

  • breed from an XL Bully dog

  • have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle.

If you believe that you have an XL Bully dog, please view the guidance which explains the full process and your requirements and options as an owner.

From 1 February 2024, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a Certificate of Exemption.

Read 'Keeping an XL Bully Dog' to find out how to get a Certificate of Exemption.

Found a stray dog?

Our officers can only collect a stray that has been contained or handed into a local veterinary surgery. We do not have the capacity to chase loose dogs.

If you find a stray dog during our normal office hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm), please call us on 01480 388388 and we will arrange for an officer to come and collect the dog.

Alternatively, if you are able, you can take the dog to Wood Green, the Animals' Charity, King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, PE29 2NH.

If you find a stray dog outside our normal office hours you can:

  • call Wood Green, on 0300 303 9333 (8.30am-4.30pm Saturday and Sunday) or 07775 847 752 (out of hours for Huntingdonshire only) to make arrangements to take the dog to them

  • keep the dog overnight and contact us on the next working day.

If you are the owner of a stray dog that has been held, you will have to pay a £25 statutory charge plus our service charge and kennelling costs before your dog is released. You will also have to pay for any vets’ treatment if your dog was ill or injured when it was seized.

View Stray Dogs Fees and Charges [PDF, 0.1MB] [PDF, 0.2MB].

If a stray dog is unclaimed after seven days, it becomes the property of Wood Green, the Animals' Charity, who will assess any unclaimed dogs and, where possible, suitably rehome them.

Microchipping and collars

It is the law that your dog must wear a collar and tag, displaying your contact details, when in a public place.

You're responsible for keeping your dog's microchip information up-to-date, for example if you move to a new house.

Dogs over the age of 8 weeks old must also have a microchip with the current owners' details.

Contact the database company your dog is registered with to update any of your details.

If your dog isn't microchipped and registered on an approved database, you could be served with a notice ordering you to microchip your dog. You'll have 21 days to do so or you may be liable to pay a £500 fine and could face criminal prosecution.

Lost your dog?

If you have lost your dog please report it to us on 01480 388388 (Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm). We will make a note of all the relevant details in case we have a stray reported that matches the description.

We do not go out to search for the dog.

We advise you to also contact Wood Green, the Animals' Charity, as a member of the public may have taken your dog there.

Dog control

We work with other partners to reduce incidents caused by irresponsible dog ownership.

There is a district-wide Public Space Protection Order PSPO [PDF, 0.1MB] which states some clear requirements for persons in charge of dogs.

It is an offence if you:

  • fail to prevent your dog from attacking another animal (causing death or injury)

  • fail to prevent your dog from repeatedly straying

  • fail to remove dog faeces (poo)

  • do not keep a dog on a lead in certain areas

  • do not put and keep a dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer

  • allow a dog to enter land where dogs are excluded and

  • are not carrying a suitable bag (or similar) for picking up and disposing of dog faeces and be able to show this if requested by an authorised officer.

To report an issue about dog control please use the form below.

Report Incident with Dog Control

Dog fouling

It is an offence to allow your dog to foul and not remove the faeces from any land in the district of Huntingdonshire, unless the owner of the land in question has given you permission to not remove the faeces.

If caught for this offence a Fixed Penalty of £100 may be issued or consideration for further legal action.

If you want to report an area of heavy dog fouling or a person that is not picking up after their dog please use our online form below.
Report Dog Fouling

Dangerous dogs

Huntingdonshire District Council will investigate incidents of dog-on-animal attacks. If your domestic pet is injured or killed by a person's dog, get as much detail as possible from the person in charge of the attacking dog or any vehicle details linked to the person. Please remember to prioritise your own safety.

Please note: we are unable to intervene between parties for matters relating to compensation for veterinarian bills.

Report a Dog-on-Animal Attack

Cambridgeshire Constabulary deals with the following:

  • Reports of an attack where a dog has injured a person. You can report a dangerous dog by calling the local police on 101

  • Situations where a dog believed to be dangerously out of control in a public place - call 999. This includes situations where a person believes that the dog may injure them.

If you believe you have experienced a dangerous dog or suspect that a dog may be a banned breed, please report it to the local police on 101.

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