Dog Warden Information

Two full time dog wardens have been employed in Stoke-on-Trent since the Dog Warden Service was introduced in 1988.

They were originally employed to fulfil our legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with the packs of dogs that roamed the streets and estates. In recent years this role has expanded to that of educator, pacifier and enforcer. A large proportion of the dog warden’s time is now spent giving advice to members of the public on responsible dog ownership, especially relating to the main problems of straying, barking and fouling. They also give valuable assistance to the police when dealing with dangerous dogs, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals and other animal welfare groups.

A Citizens Panel consultation revealed a high level of agreement that the Dog Warden Service had made a positive impact in improving responsible dog ownership in all areas of dog related problems. There was strong support for providing a Dog Warden Service at weekends and Bank Holidays but support for a 24-hour service was considerably weaker.

With this in mind, the dog warden service was extended in July 2003.  The service now includes the contracted kennel provider collecting injured and stray dogs from the finder at weekends. 

By arrangement, the contracted kennel operator also covers for the dog warden service and collects stray dogs being held by the finder during Bank Holidays and Christmas.