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www.rspca.org.uk/cawf
Registration does not directly tackle all animal-related issues but
is a useful tool for monitoring and addressing problems and can
reduce the likelihood of issues such as hoarding occurring in the
first place.
Microchipping and neutering
The RSPCA, along with other charities that rehome dogs and
cats, routinely microchips and neuters animals in our care.
While neither procedure is cheap, housing providers should
promote both to residents. At the very least, they could think
about requiring new pet dogs and cats to be microchipped.
Microchipping has been used with registration by some landlords,
particularly for pet dogs, to make traceability easier and, in turn,
to help tackle straying, fouling and nuisance and ASB issues.
Both procedures allow housing officers to interact with pets and
their owners, helping housing providers better understand some
of the issues that arise for pet-owning tenants. And, as part of
a wider plan or policy, microchipping and neutering can help
address some of the root causes of welfare and ASB issues.
To microchip, a tiny chip is inserted between an animal's
shoulder blades. It can be scanned for information on the
owner, which increases the chance of the pet being returned if
lost or stolen. This procedure (including registration) costs from
£10 to £30, although some vets and animal welfare charities can
help you provide a discounted service.
Neutering is an effective way of preventing unwanted litters,
which can produce problems down the line through irresponsible and ignorant 'accidental owners'. It may also prevent illnesses and
some unwanted behaviours. As neutering is costly, some landlords
have set up deals with local vets or animal welfare charities to
provide a number of discounted neutering vouchers. It is worth
talking to local animal welfare charities, veterinary surgeries and
local authority dog and/or animal warden services about helping
to raise awareness of neutering.
To find out more about both procedures go to:
www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets
Education
Educating residents and staff can play an important part in
tackling some key pet ownership problems. It can take many
forms, from printed and online information to holding events
that include a vet consultation or discounted microchipping.
Local animal welfare charities may be able to help you raise
awareness among the local community. The RSPCA has leaflets
on responsible pet ownership - call 0300 1234 999 for copies.
Housing officers play a vital role in educating tenants. Face-to-
face contact is an effective but often underrated method of
dealing with a complaint. RSPCA inspectors issue warning notices
to pet owners who are failing to meet their pet's needs by
handing them to the owner personally so that problems and
solutions can be discussed and explained. This ensures that the
owner is in no doubt about their responsibilities and how they
could improve the situation. In 2010 the RSPCA's inspectorate
achieved a 97 percent compliance rate for advice notices issued2.
www.politicalanimal.org.uk/cawf
Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing
Proactive partners
Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing have always had
good, clear housing policies and tenancy agreements, as
well as providing information on responsible pet ownership,
among other things. However until recently the companies,
which are part of Teesside-based Fabrick Housing Group,
were unable to meet the gold footprint criteria of providing
discounted microchipping or the sourcing of regular advice
from a reputable animal welfare source.
Over the course of 12 months, the organisations solved both
these issues by going into partnership with Middlesbrough
Council's CAWF Innovator Award-winning dog warden
service, as well as building a closer relationship with their
local RSPCA inspector.
Middlesbrough council, Erimus and Tees Valley pooled
resources to offer free microchipping for pets at a number
of different venues, including parks and community centres
in the area. The partnership also secured funding from the
neighbourhood renewal fund to offer free neutering to pets
in areas where ASB and crime were high. In addition, where
there was a welfare concern regarding an animal, the council
would accompany the RSPCA when visiting premises, with the
RSPCA inspector investigating welfare issues and the council,
together with the appropriate housing association, taking up
any other issues surrounding nuisance, ASB or brian.trodden@erimushousing.co.uktenancies.
This is a fine example of how multi-agency partnerships have
lightened the load of housing providers and at the same time
allowed them to provide a five-star service to their petowning
tenants.
INNOVATOR
Award
Brian Trodden, Area Manager
Email: brian.trodden@erimushousing.co.uk
Tel: 01642 233469
2 Data supplied by RSPCA inspectorate.
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