Pet ownership guide

Your tenancy agreement (section 3.10 - "Dogs and other animals" states what animals you:

• Can keep without needing our permission
• Can keep provided you have our written permission before you get the animal
• Must not keep under any circumstances

Most small domestic animals can be kept as pets without needing our permission. These include:

• Cat
• Goldfish (or similar fish)
• Guinea pig
• Domestic rabbit
• Budgie or canary (if kept indoors)
• Hamster
• Ferret (if kept safely)
• Domestic rats or mice
• Gerbil
• Chinchilla (as pets)

You must have our written permission before you bring any of these animals home.

This is because the type of property you live in may not be suitable and these animals have more potential to cause nuisance to people.

These animals are:

• Dog(s) - see below for more information
• Pigeons or doves
• Birds of prey or raptors (we do not allow endangered species)
• Birds in an outdoor aviary or similar structure

• Livestock
• A dangerous wild animal - as defined by law
• A species (usually "exotic") that would be dangerous to people if not kept properly, securely or safely
• Wildlife that cannot legally be kept except for scientific or conservation purposes
• An endangered species banned by law from trade, import or export. These animals include (but are not restricted to):
  • Venomous (poisonous) insects, spiders, snakes or lizards
  • Constrictor snakes (e.g. a boa constrictor)
  • Large snakes or lizards (e.g. a large adult iguana)
  • Alligators, crocodiles or similar (even if they are not yet fully grown)
  • Many species of raptor or birds of prey
  • Certain breeds of parrot
  • Endangered British animals such as red squirrel, water vole or dormouse
  • Wild cats ("big cats" and all types of cat except domestic ones)
  • Wolf or wolf-hybrids (also called "wolf-dogs")
  • Monkeys, apes or lemurs

You must not keep any livestock in your home, garden, yard or balcony. This includes:

• Horse, pony, mule or donkey
• Goat, sheep, deer, alpaca, llama, pig or cow
• Poultry (e.g. chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys)

If you do this you will be breaking the conditions of your tenancy and putting your home at risk.

You may also be breaking the law on the keeping and movement of livestock, for which there can be heavy court-imposed penalties.

If your tenancy agreement says your home is “suitable for a dog to be kept” you can only keep a dog there if you have written permission, in the form of a Dog Ownership Agreement from your housing office.

It will say in the front of your tenancy agreement whether your home is “suitable for a dog” or “not suitable for a dog” to be kept. This depends on the type of property it is, as explained below.

If your tenancy agreement says your home is “not suitable for a dog to be kept”, you must not:

• Keep a dog there
• Have a dog to stay with, or visit you
• Allow a dog onto the surrounding communal areas (such as the entrance lobby, walkways, lifts or stairs)

You cannot keep a dog if you live in a flat or maisonette that shares a common entrance with other residents, and if you have to use either:

• A communal staircase, corridor or entrance door
• A communal walkway with only one point of access to the pavement for those using it to get to their homes

The ONLY exceptions to the above ruling in general needs housing are:

• You have a Registered Assistance Dog (see below, 'Applying to Keep a Dog')
• You have a visit from someone who uses a Registered Assistance Dog

However, if you live in 'Over 60s Scheme Based Supported Housing' with the council's permission, you may be able to have occasional visits from a dog as part of visits from friends or family. Please bear in mind the following restrictions:

• The dog must not stay overnight or be 'minded' for people. It must not be left or exercised in the communal areas of the block
• The dog must not cause any nuisance, disturbance or danger to anyone
• Permission for these visits will be taken away if any of these conditions are broken

Before you get a dog you will need to complete a Dog Ownership Agreement with your Housing Management Officer. You must have permission for each dog that you keep at the property. Permission will be granted only if:

• The dog is micro-chipped (you must provide proof of this, we will not give permission otherwise). This includes Registered Assistance Dogs
• The dog is not any of the types of dog restricted by law (for example the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991). As of February 2024, these dogs are pit bull terrier type, Dogo Argentinos, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brazilieros and XL Bully.
• You agree to be a responsible dog owner and abide by the conditions in the tenancy agreement which relate to the keeping of dogs

Keeping to the conditions of your tenancy agreement - What your tenancy agreement says about the keeping of dogs

Any written agreement by us allowing you to keep a dog is subject to you:

1. Keeping the dog under proper control

This means for example:

• Dogs must be kept on a lead if on shared/ public areas of a scheme or an estate
• Using a muzzle on your dog when outside if it’s likely to snap at others
• Not to allow your dog to stray around the estate or local area
• Not to allow your dog anywhere it can frighten or bite anyone going to your front door
• Not using your dog as part of any violent or threatening behaviour to anyone

2. Complying with legislation concerning the keeping and control of dogs

There are many laws that concern the keeping of dogs. These include:

• The Control of Dogs Order 1992 – every dog while in a public place, must wear a collar displaying the owners name and address
• The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 – any dog dangerously out of control in a public area may be destroyed and owners face six month in prison or a maximum £5000 fine. An owner can also be charged if there are grounds to believe that a dog may cause an injury
• The Animal Welfare Act 2006 - a duty of care is placed on owners to ensure that a pet’s basic welfare needs, such as adequate food and water, veterinary treatment and a suitable living environment are met. It is worth noting that the animal doesn’t have to suffer for owners to be prosecuted. The Act increased the penalties for serious animal cruelty
• The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 - anyone who breeds and sells dogs as a business requires a license from the local authority

For more advice and information regarding dogs and the law contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Not allowing fouling, excessive barking or other nuisance behaviour

Examples of what this means and what we expect you to do:

• If your dog fouls in any area, including your own garden, you must clear it up immediately (see below for further advice)
• Do not leave your dog on its own for long periods of time as this may cause it to become distressed and result in it barking and causing a nuisance to other residents (see below for further advice)

Ensuring any garden, yard or balcony is properly fenced, secure and clean

Examples of what this means and what we expect you to do:

• It is your responsibility to make sure that your dog is kept securely inside the boundaries of your property and to pay for any upgrades to fencing that may be needed so that your dog is unable to escape and stray into outside and into neighbouring properties
• These conditions also apply to a dog belonging to a visitor or someone else in your household

If you allow a dog's behaviour to break the terms of your tenancy agreement:

• We will take away your permission to have a dog
• We can also take legal action to get an injunction in court to remove the dog(s)
• We can evict you from your home for breaking a condition of your tenancy

You may also be breaking other laws such as those on dangerous dogs, dog fouling or noise. If so, you will face action under these laws. For example, if your dog is often noisy, our Environmental Health Service can serve an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If the noise then continues you will face a large court fine.

These are dogs trained and provided by specific organisations to assist people with everyday living or to get out and about. These organisations are registered members of Assistance Dogs (UK) and recognized by the government. They are:

• Guide dogs for blind people
• Hearing dogs for deaf people
• Support dogs for disabled people (including seizure support dogs for people with epilepsy)

You can keep a Registered Assistance Dog if your home is classed as not suitable for an ordinary pet dog. You may also be visited by someone with a Registered Assistance Dog, which is working for them.

The conditions for keeping a Registered Assistance Dog are:

• You have been supplied with one because you need, or benefit from, its help
• The organisation supplying it agrees to their dog living there. (If your current home is unsuitable you may wish to apply to move to somewhere suitable for a Registered Assistance Dog)
• You get our written permission to keep the dog before you get it and the dog is microchipped

Permission for a Registered Assistance Dog will be taken away if you allow the dogs behaviour to break the terms of your tenancy agreement. This also applies to any visiting Registered Assistance Dog.

If you have a pet you must make sure you do not break any conditions of your tenancy by:

• Keeping an animal that you do not have permission for
• The way the animal behaves
• The way the animal is looked after or where it is kept

You must take care to prevent it becoming a nuisance by, for example, making constant or frequent noise, not being under proper control or fouling communal or public areas.

As appropriate for the type of animal you must train it properly, keep it securely (e.g. in a fenced garden or a properly sized, secure and clean cage or run) and not allow it to be a risk to anyone’s health and safety. You must also make sure that any used bedding, food or animal waste from your pet is properly disposed of.

If you, or anyone living with you, have been banned in court from keeping an animal then you must not have that type of animal at your property for as long as that ban lasts. If you keep an animal that we believe is being maltreated we will report this to the appropriate organisation, usually the RSPCA.

If you wish to construct outside accommodation in your own garden other than a small hutch or exercise pen for small mammals, you must first seek written permission via your Housing Office. An application for such permission must include plans of the proposed construction and the details of the animals to be kept. You will not be given permission for any constructions in communal/ shared areas.

Microchipping of dogs

All Southampton City council tenants who want to keep a dog from April 2011 will be required to have it micro-chipped. Microchipping benefits dog owners as it helps the council to deal quickly with strays and increases the chances of dogs being reunited with their owners. Microchipping also will help us to take action against irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to cause a nuisance. Microchipping also allows us to identify injured or stolen dogs and return them to their owners.

The council’s Animal Welfare Officer can arrange for microchipping to be carried out (by appointment) at a competitive price. Alternatively most vets and some animal charities are able to do microchipping.

Stray and abandoned dogs

You must not let your dog stray away from home at any time.

In law a stray dog is any dog by itself in a public area. It can be seized by the Animal Welfare Officer, the Police or by a member of the public (as long as they then hand it in).

• You are breaking your tenancy conditions by not keeping your dog under proper control and allowing it to cause nuisance by its behaviour as a stray.
• If your dog is taken to our, or the Police, kennels you will have to pay a fee plus any kennel and administrative costs to get your dog back.

If you ever have to look for a lost dog you should contact the Animal Welfare Officer on 023 8083 3005 (option four).

If a stray dog is seized by our Animal Welfare Officer it will be taken to a kennelling facility. The dog will be kept for seven days before being given to a dog re-homing charity. We only put a dog to sleep (on a vet’s advice) if it is dangerous or so ill or injured it would be unfair to keep it suffering.

If you see a stray dog (or take one in):

• If it appears aggressive do not approach it
• Phone the Animal Welfare Officer on 023 8083 3005 (option four) who will collect it
• If it often or regularly strays let the Animal Welfare Officer know or talk to your Housing Management Officer, especially if you know where it comes from

If you have a complaint about an animal please talk to your Housing Management Officer. You can also discuss your concerns with a Neighbourhood Warden or Housing Support Worker in confidence. They may be able to sort things out informally.

If you suspect a neighbour is guilty of cruelty or neglect towards an animal then you should report this to the RSPCA on their 24 Hour National Cruelty and Advice Line - 0300 1234 999

RSPCA

The RSPCA is a charity which investigates complaints of cruelty and neglect. They run animal hospitals and clinics for low income animals as well as centres which house dogs looking for new homes. They also provide general animal care and welfare advice and campaign on animal welfare issues.

More information can be obtained from:

• RSPCA Shelter - 01329 667541
• RSPCA Clinic - 023 8078 3000
• 24-hour National Cruelty and Advice Line - 0300 1234 999

You can also visit the RSPCA website.

Blue Cross

An animal charity which includes a veterinary clinic and an adoption centre caring for cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits.

You can call Blue Cross Southampton Rehoming Centre on 0300 7771 530.

DEFRA - Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

DEFRA are the UK government department responsible for policy and regulations on environmental, food and rural issues. This includes bringing animals into the UK and taking your pet abroad.

You can call the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77 or visit search DEFRA on GOV.UK.

PDSA

An animal charity which runs clinics to provide veterinary care for sick animals owned by low income households.

You can call PDSA Pet Aid Hospital on 023 8022 2622 or visit the PDSA website.

Animal Welfare Officer (Environmental Health Services)

The Animal Welfare Officer's role is to:

1. Educate people in responsible dog ownership
2. Take lost or stray dogs to safety at our, or the police kennels
3. Enforce laws and council bye-laws, such as those on dog fouling or the control of dogs

If you would like advice on keeping a dog and you have permission to have one, please contact the Animal Welfare Officer on 023 8083 3005 (option 4).