Campaign urges dog owners to paws for thought

A leading local housing association has launched a campaign to encourage dog owners to act responsibly, as National Pet Month gets underway.

Broomleigh, which owns and manages 15,000 homes across London and the South East, has sent out flyers and helpful guides on considerate dog ownership as part of its work to tackle anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods.

The canine campaign aims to improve situations where barking dogs or persistent dog fouling causes a nuisance to neighbours.

National Pet Month, a national campaign, runs from April 5 to May 5. It aims to encourage pert owners to act responsibly and to promote the role of working animals.

According to RSPCA figures, the charity receives a call every 25 seconds from a resident complaining about a dog barking.

Under the Broomleigh scheme, residents will be reminded that they should seek permission from their landlord before keeping a dog. Staff have taken part in awareness sessions run by a former police dog handler, while an event for residents will be held later this year. The event will be a fun, free day where residents can get expert advice, participate in fun dog activities and even get the opportunity to show off their pooches in a Crufts-style show.

Cheryl Baker, anti-social behaviour officer at Broomleigh, said: “The saying goes that a dog is a man’s best friend. However we know from experience that dogs which behave badly can be a nuisance and can also be a real concern to others.

“The problem does not lie with the dogs, but with the owners. The guides produced give helpful tips to keeping a happy dog, and one that does not cause a disturbance to others.

“The awareness sessions are also helping to drive the message home that a barking dog might seem acceptable to the owner but could cause real distress to a neighbour who, for example, is elderly and at home all day.”

Where tenants’ dogs are causing a nuisance, Broomleigh’s anti-social behaviour team can work with neighbours to bring about a resolution. This will involve speaking to the owner in the first instance but could also involve legal action if the dog owner does not take agreed steps to improve the situation.