Animal welfare & dog control

Our dedicated enforcement officer can deal with horses illegally tethered or straying on public authority land. However, horses running loose or causing a nuisance should be reported to the police.  

• If you are concerned about the welfare of a horse, please report it to animal welfare. 

Although unsightly, horse waste isn’t toxic and so we are unable to remove it. However, if you feel excessive horse waste is a problem in your area, please contact us and we may be able to speak to the horse’s owner.  

The safest way to take your dog out in public is using a lead. It is the dog walker's responsibility to ensure that a dog(s) is under control at all times and is not a risk to public safety. More information is available at www.gov.uk. 
 
You must always keep your dog on a lead when visiting memorial grounds, cemeteries or gardens of remembrance anywhere in Northumberland and on any land classified as an ‘A’ or ‘B’ road, together with adjoining verges etc. 
 
It is an offence not to put and keep your dog on a lead at any time, in any public place if a council official asks you to do so in the interest of public safety. 
 
Leads should be no more than 1.5m in length. 
 
You must immediately pick up after your dog if it fouls 
 
It is an offence to allow your dog to foul land without immediately picking up. This applies to any land in Northumberland which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to access (with or without payment). 
 
The fixed notice penalty for any offence committed against the Northumberland County Council (Dog Control) Public Spaces Protection Order is £100 (£80 if paid within 7 days), to be paid in 14 days. If it isn’t paid the Council would normally prosecute the offender in a magistrates' court which could result in a fine of up to £1000. 
 
To view a copy of the above order please click here. 

Please note that Schedule One of the Order will not apply in respect of a dog trained by a prescribed charity and/or upon which a person relies on for assistance. 

Click here to read the full notice of the making of the Public Spaces Protection Order. 

All complaints we receive about dog mess are properly investigated. 
 
Although it is not essential to provide your details when you report dog mess, the action we can take if you don’t is limited. All information we receive is treated with the strictest confidentiality and simply leaving the following details significantly increase the chances of us resolving your complaint: 

• Type and description of dog together with description on offender. 
• Time, location and frequency of alleged offence. 
• Your details for feedback. 

We don’t tolerate dog fouling in Northumberland. If you own a dog and it makes a mess, you clean it up. Failing to pick up after your pet is antisocial, dirty and spreads diseases like toxicariasis, which is of risk to children and can cause blindness. Yet it continues to be a problem, and one we take very seriously. 
 
If you’re found to have not cleaned up your dog’s mess, you will be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100. 
 
If payment is not received within 14 days you will be prosecuted. Offenders face a court appearance, with a maximum penalty of £1,000. Claiming ignorance of the dog's actions is not a valid defence. Registered blind dog owners are exempt from any fines. 

• View the fouling of land by dogs order for more information. 

We target hotspot areas identified by the public and carry out early morning, evening and weekend patrols if necessary. We’ve also trained more officers to enforce dog control orders and issue fines. 
 
We work hard to make sure the bins provided for dog mess are well maintained and emptied regularly. 

During normal office hours 
If you see or are in possession of a stray dog during office hours and you are not able to locate the owner, contact Northumberland County Council on 0345 600 6400 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8am and 4.30pm on Fridays. A dog warden will come and collect the dog. 
 
Alternatively, you can contact the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter on 0191 2150435. They accept dogs found by members of the public between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Their address is Benton Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE12 8EH. 
 
Animal welfare out-of-hours service  
If you are in possession of a stray dog outside office hours and can’t return the dog to its owner, we will arrange for the dog to be collected using our out-of-hours service. Call us on 0345 6006400, as online forms are only picked up during normal working hours. Times for our out-of-hours service are listed below. 

• 5pm to 10pm, Monday to Thursday 
• 4.30pm to 10pm, Friday 
• 8am to 10pm, Saturday/Sunday 
• 8am to 8pm, bank holidays 

Outside the above hours you can: 

• Take the dog to Moorview Referrals, Northumberland Business Park West, Cramlington, NE23 7RH. Telephone 0191 338 8890.  
• Keep the dog until the next working day and then contact us 
•  

Aggressive, frightened or nervous strays 
Do not attempt to secure or restrain any stray dog if it shows any signs of being aggressive, frightened or nervous. 

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag in a public place. The tag must show the owner’s name and address. Our dog wardens enforce this law, and fines of up to £5,000 can be given by the courts for an offence. 
 
Most importantly, you’re far less likely to retrieve your dog if it goes missing and isn’t wearing a collar and tag, even if it’s microchipped. 

• Report a dog offence here. 

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity tag in a public place. The tag must show the owner’s name and address. Our dog wardens enforce this law, and fines of up to £5,000 can be given by the courts for an offence. 
 
Most importantly, you’re far less likely to retrieve your dog if it goes missing and isn’t wearing a collar and tag, even if it’s microchipped. 

Report a dog offence here. 

Neutering 

The council no longer provides neutering vouchers of any kind. 

While perfectly normal, the constant barking or whining of a dog can be disturbing and annoying for neighbours. 
 
Often the problem occurs when the dog’s owner is out of the house, and they have no idea until someone complains. Before you report it to the council, highlight the problem to your neighbour and give them a chance to resolve the issues. 
 
If a complaint is made to the council, we will investigate and consider the volume, duration and time of the barking. 
 

We will assess: 

• The frequency in the barking events. 
• How long the barking goes on for. 
• At what time of the day or night the barking occurs. 
• The severity experienced in the complainant's property.  

We may serve a noise abatement notice and, if the barking continues, the owner could be taken to court and fined. 

• Report a problem with barking dogs. 

Dogs are not by nature solitary animals. They need the security of a family group and can soon become distressed if left alone. 
 
Get your dog used to the idea you are away for different periods at different times of the day, and don’t make a fuss of them when you leave. 
 
For more advice and tips on how to control noisy dogs, download The Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs guide – Is your dog barking too much?