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   Dealing with dogs
In what situations do Greater Manchester Police get involved? Stray dogs The police no longer have any responsibility for accepting or dealing with stray dogs. All stray dog enquiries in Greater Manchester (excluding Manchester City Council) should be re-directed to: Animal Wardens - telephone: 0845 241 7253. For all enquires relating to stray and unwanted dogs in Manchester City Council, Mon-Fri. 08:00- 17:00hrs - telephone 0161 954 9000. (For all evenings and weekend enquiries, please contact Animal Wardens - 0845 241 7253). Alternatively, if you live in Oldham, Trafford, Tameside, Stockport, Manchester, Bury, or Rochdale, you can take a stray or unwanted dog directly to: Manchester Dogs Home - telephone: 0161 277 6940. Road traffic collision involving a dog Police DogIf you are involved in a road traffic accident and hit a dog causing injury or death, you must give your own and / or the vehicle owner's name and address, and the registration number of the vehicle to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them. If this is not possible, you must report the accident to the Police as soon as possible, but within 24 hours. This is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This requirement also applies to accidents involving cattle, horses, asses, mules, pigs, sheep, and goats; (but not cats and poultry). Therefore if you own or hold responsibility for such an animal, and it is considered to be the cause of such an accident, you could be held liable for any costs involved. Injured dogs The police do not deal with injured dogs unless the immediate destruction of the animal is required. If the dog is a stray, then your Local Authority is responsible for it’s welfare. Alternatively, you may seek the services of a charitable or privately owned animal hospital or veterinary surgeon. Cruelty to dogs For instances where there is cruelty to dogs please contact: RSPCA (24 hours) - 0300 1234 999 Worrying livestock If a dog worries livestock on agricultural land, the owner of the dog and any other person in charge of it is guilty of an offence. There is a defence for shooting a dog worrying livestock under Animals Act 1971. Dog fouling If you have a complaint about dog fouling, contact your Local Authority. Dog collars Dog with collarEvery dog on a highway or in a public place is required to wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it. The owner of the dog and any person in charge of it is guilty of an offence if their dog is not wearing such a collar. Subsequently, if a dog is found by Local Authority officers without a collar, it will be seized as a stray dog. Aggressive / dangerous dogs (report of being bitten) Contact the police by telephone, or report the incident to your local police station as soon as practicable. Dangerous dogs The following breeds have been designated as dangerous dogs: * Pit Bull Terriers, * Japanese Tosas * Dogo Argentino * Filo Braziliero The Dangerous Dogs Compensation & Exemption Schemes Order 1991 allows ownership of fighting dogs if the following conditions are complied with - 1. The dog must have a certificate of exemption from the Index of Exempted Dogs (07000 783651); AND 2. The holder of such a certificate must comply with the following requirements - * the dog must be kept in secure conditions whilst at home, so that it cannot escape; * the dog must be muzzled and kept on a lead when in a public place, by someone at least 16 years old; * the keeper of the dog, if asked by a police officer or local authority officer (Dog Warden), must show the certificate of exemption, display the dog's tattoo and allow the implanted transponder to be read; * valid third party insurance must be in force; * the Index of Exempted Dogs must be informed of any address where the dog is to be kept for longer than 30 days. In addition a person commits an offence if: * they breed, or breed from, a dog to which this section applies; * sell or exchange such a dog or offer, or expose such a dog for sale or exchange; * make or offer to make a gift of such a dog or expose such a dog as a gift; * allow such a dog of which he is the owner or for the time being in charge, to be in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead; OR * abandon such a dog of which he is the owner or, being the owner or for the time being in charge of such a dog, allow it to stray.
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