12
It is important to ensure that housing officers dealing with
animal-related problems are aware of the basic legislation
surrounding pets and are comfortable around the animals they
come into contact with. Some landlords have arranged for
behaviourists and dog handlers to provide basic dog handling
and behaviour training, which results in officers feeling more
confident in their enforcement role. Please note that the
RSPCA believes it is essential for behaviourists to be approved
clinical animal behaviourists - go to: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx to
find a local practitioner.
Affinity Sutton
Educating residents and staff
In early 2008, when the issue of 'status dogs' was just
beginning to be talked about in London, a small housing
association, Broomleigh Housing, contacted us about
the CAWF scheme. The organisation had been running
events locally and drawn up a responsible dog owner's
guide. While it was not perfect, it showed a huge amount
of initiative and a desire to tackle an issue that was
impacting on animal and human welfare.
Over the next 12 months, Broomleigh became part of
Affinity Sutton, one of the largest social landlords in
England, which then took on the task of tackling
irresponsible dog ownership as well as promoting
responsible pet ownership.
Affinity Sutton has since rolled out its pets policy to
56,000 homes across England, which should have a
widespread positive effect on pet ownership.
Since 2008 Affinity Sutton has twice updated its
comprehensive information for residents on keeping a
dog, based on liaison with a number of organisations,
including the RSPCA, and has also improved its pets policy,
which underlines its status as a Gold Housing Footprint
holder and Housing Innovator Award winner.
Multi-agency working
At a time of shrinking budgets and increasing workloads,
working in partnership with other organisations is essential
when tackling some of the issues surrounding pets in housing.
It is important to liaise with your local authority dog warden
and/or animal welfare officer to ensure that everyone is clear
as to who is responsible for ensuring that dogs straying on
housing property will be picked up. Partnership work can
help provide training and advice, particularly in the area
of animal welfare (see page 11).
It is also important to build good, local working relationships
with safer-neighbourhood teams, the local authority and the
RSPCA inspectorate. These relationships will help you formally
or informally agree in which circumstances other partners need
to be involved and what they can provide within their remits.
Such close day-to-day working will provide housing officers
with resources and expertise that they would not otherwise
have, greatly improving the effectiveness of work in this area.
Partnership working has proved hugely successful in tackling
ASB with dogs, particularly in London where the police,
landlords, local authorities and animal welfare organisations
have worked together to provide education, advice and
enforcement on the issue. The RSPCA regularly runs
Community Animal Action Events (CAAEs), often in areas
where we have received many welfare complaints. CAAEs
aim to bring together landlords, local authorities and other
welfare organisations to provide education, advice, free
veterinary check-ups, flea treatment and often microchipping
and neutering too. The schemes are run by the RSPCA's
inspectorate and have proved hugely successful in helping
residents understand the importance of animal welfare.
Affinity Sutton has also continued its work with other
organisations, holding community events and offering
discounted neutering, free microchipping and expert
advice on dog training and diet.
Furthermore, housing officers in some of the London
estates managed by Affinity Sutton have received basic dog
behaviour training to ensure that they are more comfortable
around dogs and better able to read signs of stress,
aggression and possible welfare issues.
Affinity Sutton's positive approach to educating, and
engaging with, the public is a fine example for other
housing providers to follow.
Sarah Paton, Head of Housing
Tel: 07545 744031
Cheryl Baker, Neighbourhood Officer
Affinity Sutton, Maple House, 157-159 Masons Hill,
Bromley, Kent BR2 9HY
Tel: 020 8313 3310 Mobile: 07969 731524
www.affinitysutton.com
COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE FOOTPRINTS
��� Housing: A guide to good practice
GOLD
Footprint
INNOVATOR
Award