New figures reveal number of pets seized by West Dunbartonshire's dog warden

A total of 64 dogs were seized over the past five years according to date obtained by a Lennox Herald Freedom of Information request.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s dog warden has seized 64 animals over the past five years, new figures have shown.

The statistics, obtained by the Lennox via a Freedom of Information request, show that American Bulldogs were the most commonly complained about breeds in 2020 and 2021.

Jack Russell/Lakeland crossbreeds were the most complained about in 2019, with German Shepherds, Lurchers and Collies topping the chart in 2022.

Dobermans were the most reported in 2023, with the 2024 final figures still to be published.

Up until September 17 of this year, the warden had received a total of 315 complaints. The highest figure over the past was 445 in 2014 - with the lowest sitting at 319 during 2020, when lockdown measures were in place.

Complaints to the dog warden can include offences such as dog fouling, excessive barking and dog welfare.

If your dog is classed as being out of control the local council can give you a Dog Control Notice (DCN). This says what you must do to bring your dog under control.

In West Dunbartonshire, 21 DCNs have been issued since 2019 – but none have so far been issued this year.

In 2019 the figures also showed that two pet owners were issued with more than one DCN.

The most common requirement was that a pet was muzzled and kept on a lead at all times in public places.

WDC also has the power to seize dogs from owners, however the number being seized has dropped dramatically over the past five years.

In 2019 32 pets were removed from their owners, and this figure halved to 16 in 2020.

So far in 2024 just three dogs have been seized, with this figure sitting at four in 2021 and 2023 and five in 2022.

Last month the Communications Workers Union (CWU) demanded that the Scottish Government abolish the “one free bite rule” which they say offers leniency for first-time offenders, and calling for stricter measures to ensure that dog owners are held accountable for their pets’ actions

The CWU said the public, and particularly postal workers, are being put at risk on a daily basis as authorities fail to clamp down on violent dogs.

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