It is illegal to allow your dog to stray or to foul most footpaths, grass verges or beaches. We employ a team of dog wardens to encourage responsible dog ownership, and will take enforcement action, where appropriate. We will also arrange to patrol areas persistently affected by dog fouling.
If you find or lose a dog, you can call the Dog Warden service on 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400. The Dog Warden service operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm, and the wardens can advise on all aspects of responsible dog ownership. Stray dogs can be collected until 3.30pm, to enable the warden to transport the dogs to the kennels in Manchester.
We have a lost dog register. Please let us know if the dog turns up, so we can update our records.
All dogs detained by the Dog Warden are taken to the our kennels, where they will stay for a maximum of three nights. After this, they will be taken to the Manchester and District Home for Lost Dogs - telephone 0161 205 2874 - except in extreme cases of neglect or injury, where we try to house the dog in a rescue centre, if possible.
You will have to pay to retrieve your dog. If the dog has already been delivered to Manchester Dogs Home, it is up to the owner to travel there, pay the Home for the dog and collect it. If the Dog Warden still has the dog on the van, the owner must pay for the dog before the dog is returned.
| Charges for 2007-2008 | |
|---|---|
| Description | Cost |
| Dogs returnable immediately through identification of owner and immediate return |
Free |
| Stray dogs, not returnable immediately | £32.50 |
| Statutory fee £25, and holding fee £7.50 |
|
| Kennelling fee per night | £7.50 |
| If less than one night or dog is still on vehicle | £7.50 |
The fee must be paid before the dog is released. The dog can be reclaimed for up to seven days from it first being detained, but each day incurs additional kennelling charges.
You should contact Customer Services, by calling 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400, and payment can be made by credit or debit card over the phone, or pay by cheque or card at any Council reception point.
Our Customer Services will check that we are still holding the dog, and check that the description you give matches the dog, before we take your payment. Customer Services will then arrange for the Warden to meet you at a designated Council office to arrange the return of the dog.
You will have to sign a declaration that the dog belongs to you, before we can release it.
Dog Wardens will not take your dog if you can no longer look after it. We suggest you contact a rehoming centre, or one of the local animal welfare charities.
If you suspect a dog is being mistreated, you can contact the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Cruelty Line on 0870 55 55 999.
Stray dogs are a nuisance and can cause accidents and damage, which the owner may be liable for. They can harm themselves, other animals and people. They also foul public areas and pavements. Under The Environmental Protection Act 1990, owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control and not allow them to stray.
Straying dogs can be returned to owners, subject to identification, on the first occasion, but if they stray again, they will normally be taken into kennels. Once a dog has been taken into kennels, the owner must pay a fee, towards its kennelling and transportation, before it can be returned.
Dogs will be kept for seven days. If within that period, the owner comes forward to claim his/her dog, a statutory fee of £25, plus kennelling fees, must be paid.
Stray dogs may also be taken to your local police station, where their owners may also claim them.
If you find a stray dog which is not claimed, you may be able to keep it. The dog warden will visit you to assess the conditions under which you are keeping the dog, and you will be sent a letter outlining your legal obligations.
Dogs are ultimately taken to the Manchester Home for Lost Dogs. If the dog is not claimed, attempts will be made to try to rehome it (unless the dog is ill or vicious). Any decision to put down the dog is made by the veterinary surgeon.
Always make sure doors, gates and windows are kept secure. This can sometimes cause concern to your dog, especially during school holidays, as children may possibly leave doors and gates open. Make sure your fencing is adequate for keeping your dog in, thus keeping your pet safe.
Dog owners are legally required to make sure their dog wears a collar and with a tag carrying the name and address of the owner.
The Council has recently introduced a micro-chipping service for dogs.
Dog fouling is both unpleasant and potentially dangerous, as dog faeces carry bacteria that can harm children.
High Peak Borough has adopted the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, which represents a major weapon in our armoury against this problem. It allows for increased levels of fines, and covers any space accessible by the public - not just streets, but also parks and play areas, for instance.
We cannot prevent dog fouling, but we do encourage dog owners to be more responsible. We have a campaign of posters and pavement markings, to remind owners of the need to clean up after their dog.
It is an offence, punishable by a fine, to allow a dog to foul the footpath or any other area designated as dog-free. Offenders can be fined up to £1,000, as well as £50 on-the-spot fines. Dog poo, properly wrapped in a bag, can be placed in litter bins or in a household wheeled bin.
Be a responsible dog owner - Bag It and Bin it! The person who is in charge of the dog, at the time of the offence, is responsible for complying with the law - unless it was a child, in which case, the adult who is responsible for the dog or child, will be liable to pay the fine.
We will only investigate complaints of dog fouling if you provide details. However, we will not divulge these details to anyone.
Please note that, at present, we do not have an enforcement officer, so we are temporarily unable to monitor dog fouling. However, we are seeking to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
If you own or keep one or more of the animals listed below, within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, then the animal(s) must be licensed by us. We issue these annual licences. We will enforce the conditions of the licence, if they are breached, and will investigate any complaints received about the keeping of these animals. The licensing process will involve a veterinary inspection. The Environment and Housing Service is also able to offer advice, regarding the Act and its requirements.
There will be a licence fee of £200 to be paid, plus veterinary fees. A licence can only be granted to individuals, aged 18 years and over.
This is not an exhaustive list, but you require a licence to keep any of the following animals, under the Act. Please click here 
for the full list.
| Species | Example |
|---|---|
| Marsupials | Kangaroo and wallaby |
| Primates | Specific species, except some smaller primates |
| Edentates | Armadillo and anteater |
| Carnivores | Panda, wolf (or similar predators), big cat such as tiger or lion |
| Pinnipedes | Walrus, seal (not common seal) and sea lion |
| Elephant | - |
| Aardvark | - |
| Even toed Ungulate | Antelope, Buffalo, Giraffe, Caribou, Hippo, etc |
| Big birds | Cassowary, Emu and Ostrich |
| Reptile | Alligator, crocodile and named lizard or snake |
| Invertebrate | Named spider, such as Black widow, Red back and scorpions |
The Act was originally introduced in response to public concerns about the keeping of dangerous pets, especially big cats. The licensing process aims to ensure that, where private individuals keep dangerous wild animals, they do so in circumstances that create no risk to the public and safeguard the welfare of the animals. When a licence is issued, it may have conditions attached limiting numbers of animals kept, restricting animal movements etc.
We can only grant a licence if we are satisfied that:
You can appeal to the magistrates' court if you are refused a licence.
Your complaint will be investigated. If a dangerous wild animal is kept without a valid licence, or outside the terms and conditions of the licence, the animal can be seized by us and retained, destroyed or otherwise disposed of.
If you are under 18, a licence cannot be issued to you. It would have to be issued to an adult, over 18, in the household.
It is a condition of the licence that the owner of the animal has taken out adequate insurance against liability for any damage caused by the animal.
You do not need a licence to open a boarding establishment for small animals (such as rabbits and guinea pigs).
Licences are only needed where cats or dogs are boarded.
You should consult the Development Control team to check whether or not planning permission is required. Certain conditions need to be met before you will be granted a Licence.
If you are concerned about the conditions in which animals are kept at a particular boarding establishment, and can provide us with the reasons for your concerns, we will arrange for an enforcement officer to contact you to discuss them, and to visit the establishment to investigate how the animals are being kept.
| Name, Address & Telephone Number | Company Trading Name |
|---|---|
| Mr Albert & Mrs Linda Hall Mount View Farm Higher Chisworth, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 5SA Tel: 01457 867362 |
Mount View Boarding Kennels and Cattery |
| Mrs O Barlow Torrside Level Crossing Hadfield, Glossop Derbyshire SK13 1HX Tel: 01457 854985 |
Torrside Boarding Kennels |
| Mr Christopher Richards & Ms Melanie Stevens Manchester Road Buxton Derbyshire SK17 6ST Tel: 01298 22340 |
Springfield Boarding Kennels & Cattery |
| Mrs Elaine & Mr Keith Buckley Rosemere Farm Dolly Lane Buxworth SK23 7QG Tel 01663 747220 |
Brookdale Cattery |
| Mr D J Hopkins New Market Street Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6LP Tel: 01298 23499 |
Overdale Veterinary Centre Ltd |
| Ms Janet Hollister Owlgreave Barn Combs Chapel-en-le-Frith High Peak, SK23 9UW Tel: 01298 815655 |
Catsworth House Cattery |
| Mr P Bassett Arundel House Cemetery Road Glossop Derbyshire SK13 9QG Tel: 01457 867600 |
Arundel Kennels and Cattery |
| Mr J R & Ms C M Bailey 12 Stoneheads Whaley Bridge High Peak SK23 7BB Tel: 01663 732782 |
Clare Cottage Kennels |
| Mrs Edith Handford Thornsett Fields Farm Thornsett Birch Vale High Peak SK22 1AX Tel 01663 743025 |
Casper’s Cattery |
| Ann Baslington–Davies Tor Top Farm Sparrowpit Buxton SK17 8ES |
High Peak Kennels |
| Mrs Alison A Hill 3 Birch Green Glossop SK13 8PR |
Home Boarding |
Under the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970, anyone operating a riding establishment must obtain a licence from the local authority for the area where the premises are located. The licence is renewable annually.
A Riding Establishment is defined as 'the carrying on of a business of keeping horses to let them out for riding, or for use in providing instruction in riding for payment or both'. This would, therefore, include riding schools and trekking centres.
To apply for a licence, you must complete an application form and return it with the fee and relevant documents (eg. copies of qualification certificates for horse riding tuition and insurance certificates).
Following the receipt of a suitable application form, a veterinary surgeon will inspect the premises (a copy of the vet inspection form can be found in Appendix 1 of the guidance booklet). If the vet reports acceptable standards a licence will be issued and you will be charged again for the cost of the inspection.
Please note: licences run from 1 January to 31 December every year.
If you have any questions, please call Environmental Health on 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400, or email customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk.
The Council deals with the inspection and licensing of all establishments, where wild animals are displayed for public entertainment, the enforcement of licence conditions and dealing with complaints.
The cost of a zoo licence is £160, plus veterinary costs.
Where are the zoos in High Peak?
There is one licensed zoo at Chapel-en-le-Frith.
I am thinking of opening a children's pet zoo - do I need a licence?
It depends on the type of animals. If there are only animals which are domesticated within the UK, then no. You should still contact the Operations Unit to discuss health and safety issues.
Do I need a licence if I am only going to display wild animals from within the UK?
Yes.
Do I need a licence for an animal rescue centre or sanctuary?
If you keep animals for the purpose of displaying them to the public, then a licence will normally be required.
How long does the licence last?
The licence lasts for six years.
How do I apply?
Apply in writing. Once completed, an inspection by a government appointed vet will take place.
Do I have to arrange the veterinary inspection?
No, this is done by us, as part of the licence. The vet must be appointed by the Government.
How much will the vet's fee cost?
This depends on a number of factors, such as travelling costs. Vets usually charge by the hour. We have no control over the vet's fees.