Kennels
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/24/002111/I
Version Date: 04/07/2024
The Alliance Dogs Department has provided the following information.
- Do you follow the RSPCA’s Welfare of Seized Dogs in Kennels Guide?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes
If no, what guidelines do you use when selecting contracted kennels and monitoring the welfare of dogs within contracted kennels?
2. Where do you house seized dogs? (Please add the capacity of dogs that can be housed in the kennels in the relevant column)
Police Kennels Yes ☐ No ☐ Capacity:
Private Kennels Yes ☐ No ☐ Capacity
Private Kennels – capacity is 15
3. What provisions do you have in place for seized dogs if/when capacity is full?
Phone around and see if we can fit in elsewhere
4. How often are visits made to seized dogs in police/private kennels?
Most weeks, but minimum every 2 weeks
4. How often are visits made to seized dogs in police/private kennels? (please check)
Frequency of Visits
Seizing Authority Visits
Daily ☐
Weekly ☐
Bi-Weekly ☐
Monthly ☐
Less than Monthly ☐
Other (please state) ☐
Weekly
Vet Visits
Daily ☐
Weekly ☐
Bi-Weekly ☐
Monthly ☐
Less than Monthly ☐
Other (please state) ☐
Bi-Weekly
Comments
5. Is your private kennel in your police force area?
Yes ☐ No ☐
No
If no, what is the distance to the kennel from seizing area?
Information not held.
6. Do you provide individual plans for seized dogs that the private kennels can follow i.e. environmental, dietary, veterinary support and exercise plans?
If yes, please can you provide an example of this?
Yes, each time a dog is brought in the full time Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) has a meeting with the kennel manager and a risk assessment is put in place, along with which kennel would be more suitable for that particular dog, what food is to be fed and exercise plan. Sometimes we insist that the dog goes in a kennel that has rubber matting at the front of the kennels so that if the dog likes to jump up at the front of the bars or runs around all the time then the flooring is stable preventing injuries.
7. What provisions are in place for dogs whose behaviour restricts them from being taken out of their kennel for daily exercise or contact with people?
All the dogs have access to come out of their kennels. Special doors have been fitted that allows their kennel door to be open and then shut off the corridor and the run door open without having to touch the dog. Giant pig boards are used to ensure the safety of staff. The dog then has enrichment toys in the run.
Some runs are right next to each other and so if a dog is good around other dogs, they can have interaction between the fences.
8. What provisions are in place to provide opportunities for dogs to perform natural behaviours such as exercise, chewing/digging, socialising and to meet the medical needs of dogs who are considered unsafe for staff to enter the kennels of?
See answer to question 7.
9. Are there processes in place to request support from a Clinical Animal Behaviourist to meet the welfare needs of individual dogs?
Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes, we regularly have a clinical behaviourist walk around the kennels and give advice on what to put in place.
Do you provide the following for seized dogs in both police kennels and contracted kennels?
• Individual dietary requirements i.e. allergies Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes
Medicines provided by the owner’s vet for ongoing medical conditions Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes, but will always be checked by a vet prior to being administered.
Preventative Medicines i.e. flea, tick, worm, and vaccinations Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes
- Medicines provided by kennels vet for conditions developed whilst kennelled? Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes
Enrichment toys/food puzzles, sniffing/chewing Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes
Bedding of Suitable Material Yes ☐ No ☐
Yes