Keeping pets and animals

We have updated our tenancy agreement and rules about keeping pets and animals.

All tenants are now required to request permission before keeping any pet or animal in their council home, regardless of the type of property they live in.

Whether you live in a house, bungalow, flat or other council-owned accommodation, you must obtain permission before bringing a pet or animal into your home.

Asking you to get permission before keeping a pet or animal helps us to:

• Maintain accurate records of which households have pets or animals.
• Understand the types and number of pets or animals being kept in our homes.
• Respond more effectively to reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and nuisance issues involving pets or animals.
• Promote responsible pet ownership.
• Help keep our neighbourhoods, communities and communal areas safe for everyone.
• Ensure that pets and animals are suitable for the property and do not have a negative impact on neighbours.

Having up-to-date information about pets and animals also helps us work with tenants to prevent issues from arising and to resolve concerns quickly when they do occur.

When considering a request, we will take into account the following:

• The type, breed and size of the animal.
• The type and size of your home.
• The number of people living in your home.
• The number and type of pets already living in your home.
• Access to suitable outdoor space, green areas and nearby roads.
• Whether your home is in a sheltered housing scheme.
• Any licensing or legal requirements relating to the animal.
• Any history of anti-social behaviour, tenancy breaches or significant rent arrears.

We will consider each request individually and let you know our decision in writing as soon as possible.

Check with us before you purchase or accept a pet, to avoid disappointment.

If you already have a pet or animal and have permission from us to keep it in your home, you do not need to apply again.

You only need to make a new request if you want to keep an additional pet or animal.

If you're not sure whether you have permission or have told us you have a pet or animal, please contact us on 01304 801084 or send an email to housing@dover.gov.uk, and we'll check our records for you.

You can request permission to keep a pet by completing this online form.

If you are struggling to complete the online form, or have any questions, please contact us on 01304 801084 to speak to a member of the team.

We will not grant permission if the pet or animal you want to keep in your home is:

• Any dog the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies to, unless there is an exemption
• Any animal the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 applies to
• Any dangerous animal
• Any animal which causes a health and safety risk in the area
• Any animal which is not bred to be a domestic pet
• Cockerels

If we grant you permission, you must abide by the terms and conditions of the permission, and the Tenancy Agreement.

You must request permission for each new pet or animal you want to bring into your home.

Your responsibilities for keeping a pet or animal in your home will be set out in the terms and conditions of the permission. You must also comply with your responsibilities as set out in your Tenancy Agreement.

However, in general, the following will apply:

• You must always keep your pet or animal under control.
• You must ensure you have the correct licenses and certification to keep the animal in your home.
• Clean up after your pet or animal in communal and public areas.
• Ensure your pet or animal is cared for appropriately and their welfare needs are met.
• Not allow your pets or animals to cause a nuisance, for example, fouling in shared areas such as lifts, stair and landings, or making too much noise such as barking.
• If you live in a property with shared areas, you must exercise your pet away from the property.
• Not allow any animal you keep at your home to cause a nuisance to your neighbours, your neighbourhood, Council staff, as well as contractors, operatives and agents acting on our behalf.
• Make sure your pet is appropriately supervised and does not cause damage to your home, neighbouring homes and shared areas (internal and external).
• You will be responsible for providing and maintaining any fencing or caging specifically needed to control your pet or animal.

We can retract granted permission if you, any other person living in or visiting the property (including children), your friends and relatives, break the conditions of your Tenancy Agreement and / or the terms and conditions of the permission.

We may also take enforcement action, which could ultimately end in you losing your home.

We recognise the important role that guide dogs and assistance dogs play in helping people to live independently.

We still ask that you let us know about your guide dog and assistance dog, including proof of registration, so that we can keep our records up to date. This will help us ensure we have accurate information about pets or animals living in our homes and communities.

If you own a dog or a cat, it must be microchipped and registered. This is a legal requirement. Owners who fail to comply may face a fine.

You can get your dog or cat microchipped for a small fee by calling 01304 872289 or by completing this form.

We want to support tenants to be responsible pet and animal owners and ensure pets and animals are happy, healthy and well cared for.

If you are struggling to care for your pet, your circumstances have changed, or you need advice on pet care, training, behaviour, rehoming, or accessing animal welfare services, please contact us and seek support as early as possible. The organisations below may be able to provide advice and assistance.

National organisations

• RSPCA – Advice on pet welfare, responsible ownership and animal care. www.rspca.org.uk (opens in new tab)
• Dogs Trust – Dog care advice, behaviour support and information for dog owners. www.dogstrust.org.uk (opens in new tab)
• Cats Protection – Information on cat care, behaviour and welfare. www.cats.org.uk (opens in new tab)
• Blue Cross – Advice on pet care, behaviour, bereavement support and rehoming. www.bluecross.org.uk (opens in new tab)

Local support in East Kent and Dover District

• RSPCA Canterbury and District Branch – Provides animal welfare support, advice, rehabilitation and rehoming services across East Kent, including the Dover area. www.rspca-canterbury.org.uk (opens in new tab)
• Guardian Angels Dog Rescue – A South East Kent charity helping to rescue, foster and rehome dogs. www.guardianangelsdogrescue.co.uk (opens in new tab)
• Chancepixies Animal Welfare – A Dover-based animal welfare charity that supports responsible pet ownership and helps rehome dogs. www.chancepixies.com (opens in new tab)

The Dog Warden helps ensure that dogs are kept safely and responsibly within the district.

If you have concerns about stray dogs, dog fouling, or dangerous or out-of-control dogs, you can report these issues to the Dog Warden Service.

For more information or to report a dog-related issue, please contact the Dog Warden Service.

You can find out more in our Pets Policy.