FOI request (FOIR-206228845)

Stray Dogs

Requested Tue 12 May 2020
Responded Fri 24 July 2020

On 27th November 2018, I was advised by Wealden Council that stray dogs seized on behalf of Wealden District Council were kennelled at Frandham Boarding Kennels in Dover. Paragraph 1.2 of the contract document between Rother and Wealden Council and Animal Wardens Ltd states that 'Hastings Borough Council will enter into a separate contract with the successful provider/s based on the specification and terms and conditions contained in this document'.

Please can you provide me with the following information:

1. Animal Wardens Ltd indicated in its method statement for the current contract that dogs may be moved to different kennels during the statutory 7 day period. Please can you confirm whether or not stray dogs continue to be kennelled solely at Frandham Boarding Kennels for the entirety of the statutory 7 day period. If any other kennels are used, please can you confirm the name and location of the kennels.

2. Please can you let me have a copy of the contract between the Council and the boarding kennels for the kennelling of dogs for the statutory 7 day period. If the contract is between the Council's provider Animal Wardens Ltd and the kennelling provider, please can you let me have a copy of the sub-contract with Animal Wardens Ltd. If no sub-contract exists, please let me have any information held by Animal Wardens Ltd regarding the kennelling of stray dogs at the relevant kennels, including the price paid by Animal Wardens Ltd for the kennelling of each dog for the statutory 7 day period. (Please note that information held by a contractor is disclosable under FOI, if that information is held during the performance of an outsourced contract).

3. The commercial boarding of other people's dogs is licensable activity under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Please can you confirm that the kennels provider (or providers) holds a license, and let me have a copy of the license (or licenses) if held by the Council.

4. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of stray dogs collected by the Council's own dog warden, Animal Wardens Ltd or by any person or company contracted or subcontracted to provide a dog warden service by the Council. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

5. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of stray dogs returned directly to owner by the dog warden or its contractor, without the need to be kennelled. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

6. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of stray dogs kennelled for up to 7 days either by its contractor or in the Council's own kennels. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

7. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of dogs returned to owner from kennels or reclaimed by the owner from kennels within 7 days. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

8. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of dogs not claimed after the statutory 7 days. Please provide a breakdown of how those dogs were disposed of, pursuant to Section 149(6) Environmental Protection Act 1990. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

9. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of stray dogs euthanised within the statutory 7 days. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

10. In relation to Questions 8 and 9, please state whether any euthanised dogs were subsequently transferred to or collected by, or on behalf of any academic, educational or training organisation. Please state specifically whether any of these dogs were subsequently delivered to or collected by, or on behalf of, the University of Liverpool Institute of Veterinary Science or any of its employees, contractors or subcontractors. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

11. From 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018 and from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019, please confirm the total number of stray dogs retained by the finder, pursuant to Section 150 Environmental Protection Act 1990. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

12. Please provide me with any additional outcome data regarding unclaimed stray dogs provided to the Council by Animal Wardens Ltd for 2018 and 2019. Please provide a separate breakdown for each year.

Response

1. We can confirm our refusal notice issued within the response to your previous request ref: FOI81624901 (13 August 2018) is still current and correct. We would therefore refer you to our previous reply in responding to this question.

2. A copy of the contract with Animal Wardens Ltd was previously supplied to you within our response to your Freedom of Information request ref: FOI81624901 (13 August 2018).  We can confirm this is current and correct.

We are currently awaiting a copy of a sub-contract and as soon as we are in receipt of this document, we will give due consideration to its release albeit it in a redacted form.

3. The Kennels are licensed by the Local Authority where they are located, this Local Authority does not hold a copy.

4. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 157, 2019/20 - 116

5. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 140, 2019/20 - 98

6. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 16, 2019/20 - 18

7. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 4, 2019/20 - 10

8. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 12, 2019/20 - 18

9. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 1, 2019/20 - 0

10. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - None, 2019/20 - None

11. The Local Authority holds the information in municipal years: Item 2018/19 - 1, 2019/20 1

12. No further outcome data is recorded.