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Pets Policy and Procedure

This policy and procedure supports any tenancy agreement in place.
New legislation is to be introduced in April 2007 governing pets and their care and treatmentby owners in the form of the Animal Welfare Bill. This will redefine cruelty and increase the penalites for owners guilty of illtreatment or cruelty.

1. Introduction

Pets can provide a long term companion for a wide range of people which can be mutually beneficial. This procedure is aimed at making the keeping of a pet of any kind as problem-free as possible whilst ensuring that a suitable standard of welfare, health and hygiene is provided for the pets and that problems are prevented as far as possible or managed appropriately if they arise. In all cases the welfare of any animal must take priority over any other issue. Any decisions made by Leeds Federated representatives are binding.

RSPCA Cruelty Helpline for reporting incidents is: 0870 55 55 999.

It should be noted that the keeping of any pet is a privilege for everyone and careful consideration should be given to the well-being and care of the pet before they are acquired. The health and welfare of any pet should always be paramount and be the first consideration when dealing with pets in Leeds Federated properties. When considering whether to grant permission for any tenant to keep pets at their property along with all other considerations in the procedure, staff should also carefully consider the ability of the tenant/s to properly care for the animal responsibly so as not to cause distress or ill-treatment to the animal or to cause nuisance to other households nearby or to members of the public.

Generally, pets requiring the granting of permission would be dogs or cats but pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs or other animals which normally live outside or require some outside space, although not specifically subject to permission currently, should be very carefully considered before they are allowed to be kept in any property especially one without the suitable facilities as indicated below.

2. Property Types

Pets are usually only allowed in specific property types that are :

Houses with private enclosed gardens or private yards
Ground floor or basement flats without communal entrances and with private gardens or yards.

Pets would not usually be allowed in:
Properties where the only outside space is a shared yard or garden
Flats above ground floor level
Flats or bed-sits with communal entrances (that is an entrance that is shared by more than one dwelling place)

Exceptions to the above may be given in extreme circumstances but this should always be considered a last resort. These would be:

existing tenant(s) of Leeds Federated needs to move urgently and already has permission relating to their current property to keep a pet. Permission would be given to keep the pet if it cannot otherwise be re-homed but permission would not be given to replace the pet in the event of loss.
where an elderly or disabled person needs to move to sheltered or over 55's accommodation which would normally be considered unsuitable for pets. In this instance once the pet dies replacements pets would not be considered
where the tenant requires the use of an assistance dog due to vision or hearing problems, etc.. It is also expected where a request of this nature is made that the property is assessed for suitability to meet tenants' needs as well.

3. Owners' responsibility for all pets whether requiring permission or not

3.1 Care and Welfare:Owners must:

Provide a good standard of care to the pet at all times
Take all precautions to safeguard pets from any harm
Ensure that the pet does not cause nuisance or annoyance to neighbours through activities such as prolonged or unwarranted barking, whining, banging, scratching, etc. Pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs or other animals which you would expect to have some access or who you would expect to spend the majority of their time outdoors must not be permanently confined to particular rooms such as cellars or bedrooms (more advice on this can be gained from the websites at the end of this document or other animal welfare authorities)
Exercise is important to all pets and tenants must ensure that this can be provided by them in a safe and responsible way
It is an offence for some pets to wander or roam outside the boundaries of the tenants' garden or yard without a responsible adult and/or suitable control methods. For current information on the laws relating to this then the tenant or staff members can contact any animal welfare organisation, the local council or the Police
Tenants should be fit and well enough to care for their pet properly or to organise that care from a suitable other person
Any fouling that the pet leaves should be cleaned up immediately even if in a private garden or yard to restrict the spread of any diseases or odours. This applies especially in summer or hot weather
All bodily waste should be disposed of promptly and hygienically to limit damage to property or risk of infection to other persons
Pets should be kept in suitable housing if generally kept and suitable for keeping outdoors and should be provided suitable protection in extreme weather conditions (hot, cold, wet and windy weather)
Tenants should be encouraged to have their pets neutered where this is possible. They should also be advised to take advantage of any scheme of this nature available at their local vet's surgery or animal welfare organisation where this can be either cheap or free of charge at times
Tenants should be advised to have their pets micro-chipped or tattooed for identification purposes in case they get lost or stolen
Breeding of animals for profit is strictly prohibited and may also be against the law (more information may be available on websites below)
No tenant is allowed to keep the offspring of existing pets if they exceed the maximum number of pets allowed in the property or, if within that level, if they become a nuisance in any way
Tenants should not be allowed or advised by staff to tether or restrain their animals in any way to stop them roaming - suitable other methods of containment should be used and advise on this can be obtained from animal welfare organisations and tenants should be advised on this where applicable
Although in some areas there may be access to free veterinary care it should be recommended that tenants seriously consider taking out insurance cover for their pets. This would be to cover medical expenses and all veterinary bills at least.

Training for dogs - Staff should always advise tenants to take advantage of any training and obedience courses particularly for dogs that may be available in their area although we cannot insist that this is followed. However, although Leeds Federated would advise this to ensure that pets do not create a problem we will not be liable for any fees that may be applicable or any consequences as a result of such classes.

4. Exotic or unusual pets

More exotic or unusual pets may be kept in accordance with this policy but the environment in which they are kept should be suitable to the pet or pets concerned and any laws relating to the keeping of these animals should be closely observed. Any breaches of laws or suspicions of mistreatment must be reported immediately to the relevant authority for investigation and/or further action.

5. Tenants with support needs

Tenants who have regular involvement of a support worker and are considering keeping a pet should only do so if they have a named next of kin who would be able to take on the care of their pet if they become unwell or unable to care for the pet at any time. Support workers are not expected to care for pets in the event of hospitalization of tenants or if tenants should become unwell in other ways and should not be encouraged or persuaded to take on this task by a third party.

Where tenants spend a lot of their time in day centres or similarthen the needs of any pet must be considered before permission is granted. It maybe that the Neighbourhood Manager or Officer advises tenants to consider pets that would requies less attention and so would be more suitable for spending long periods alone in a property, althought the tenant should be made aware that every pet demands some attentions every day if only to feed, clean and care for their health needs.

6 Mistreatment of pets

Staff will be vigilant for any signs of mistreatment or cruelty and if this is reported or observed by themselves or third parties are expected to report it immediately to either the police or an animal welfare organisation who will investigate and take any necessary action to prevent further mistreatment or distress. This can be either with or without the permission of the owner or other person responsible for the animal. It would be considered illtreatment to have a pet with fleas, lice or other pests living on it for any length of time. The owner always remains responsible for keeping their pets and premises free of pests and insects at all times.

Fleas and other pests which live on pets but which may migrate into carpets and furniture are covered in the pests policy.

7. Action We Can Take

Where there are complaints about any pets causing a disturbance or nuisance then action must be taken by the relevant member of staff to resolve these issues.
This could involve a number of approaches including

Contacting the complainant to discover the extent of the problem and what outcome they would like (although this is only an indication of the emotions that may be present surrounding the pet in question it should be stressed that the actual outcome will be the organisation's decision in accordance with policy and bearing in mind the welfare of all parties concerned)
Contacting the pet owner to discuss the issues and look at practical solutions (depending on the particular problem this could include training classes, obedience classes, consulting a vet, having pet neutered, more careful control of pet, installing suitable and approved fences at tenant's own expense, changes to way pet is cared for and others not listed here)
Monitoring the situation for improvement - this may include the use of diary sheets for the complainant in order to record level of nuisance created
Mediation between the tenants and possibly pets involved
Tenant having pet re-homed elsewhere
Where tenants have allowed their pets to breed and they become a nuisance of exceed he number reasonably permitted in the property then Leeds Federated staff can set a timescale for the rehoming of the pets
Where tenants keep insects or other exotic pets and they become a nuisance or an infestation then the owner would be recharged for any costs incurred by the association for their capture or eradication
Enforcement of tenancy agreement but this should be a last resort and every alternative should be considered first.

These measures assume that the pet is not being mistreated which is included in a separate section and should be used as appropriate.

8.On vacating a property at the end of a tenancy

We expect all our tenants to leave their homes in a clean and tidy condition when they terminate their tenancy, including having left no repairs that are the responsibility of the tenant. This also applies to pet owners and means that any damage caused to the fabric of the property or the outside areas must be put right to the satisfaction of Leeds Federated.

Any mess created by the pet should be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected where necessary to avoid damage or the spread of disease or infection to others. Where this does not happen then Leeds Federated will carry out the repairs and/or cleaning and disinfecting that is deemed necessary and will always recharge the outgoing tenant.

9. Abandoned Properties

Where properties have been abandoned and a pet is suspected of being left in the property then every effort must be made to ensure the welfare of the animal is taken. If the previous tenants, their next of kin or a key-holder cannot be located or contacted then this may mean that a forced entry may be necessary to search for or to rescue a pet suspected of being present in the property. Every effort will be made to rescue a pet which should then be taken to a local animal rescue facility as soon as possible for proper care and attention. The involvement of the Police or other organisations may be necessary but this should not deter or delay any rescue effort.

Where it has been necessary to force an entry to a property the property should be left secure but the cost of the actions should be recharged to the tenant. The normal abandonment procedure should then be followed for the property but the previous tenants should also be informed of the whereabouts of their pet and any legal or other implications of their actions as necessary. Any rescue organisation involved may decide to recharge the tenant, and staff would be expected to cooperate in any action that may be necessary for this to happen. Leeds Federated would not be responsible for paying any fees due on tenants' pets.

10. In case of emergencies

10.1 Fire, flood or evacuation
In the event of an unexpected event such as fire, flood or evacuation then the pet should be given suitable priority but human life should always be considered of paramount importance. Even at times of distress the pet remains the property of the owner and where possible any action should be with their permission. Where the owner is absent or unable to make a decision then staff or other professionals are empowered to make a decision in the best interests of the pet. This may include arranging for temporary re-homing of a pet or emergency Veterinary care the cost of which the owner would be expected to cover.

10.2 Hospitalization of tenant
Where a tenant lives alone and is unexpectedly hospitalized then staff would expect the next of kin to make arrangements for the pet to be suitably cared for on a temporary basis. If there is no next of kin then a neighbour may be able to assist. If that fails then staff would be expected to arrange suitable accommodation at a reasonable rate and the owner would be expected to pay for this when they are well again.

10.3 Death of a sole tenant
Where a sole tenant dies and leaves a pet behind then ownership would automatically pass to the next of kin and they would be expected to make all arrangements as necessary. Where there is no next of kin then this task may pass to the person who is clearing the property of belongings. If this is not possible then Leeds Federated staff would be responsible for making suitable arrangements for the pet to be re-homed appropriately. This task may be devolved to an animal welfare organisation such as the RSPCA or the Cats Protection League although there are other organisations which may be able to help. The organisation should be contacted immediately to arrange for removal of the pet from the property so to minimise distress and disruption. This would also apply in cases where a neighbour offers to re-home a pet but their property, household or the person him/herself would be unsuitable or unable to adequately care or manage that particular pet.

10.4 Women Fleeing Domestic Violence
The Dogs Trust Freedom Project run a service in conjunction with the police, housing advice centres and social services where pets can be cared for temporarily while a woman experiencing domestic violence moves into a hostel. This service is only available while a woman is occupying a hostel - not any other sort of accommodation. More information can be obtained by phoning 0800 083 4322.

11. Review of Decisions on Pets

In accordance with policy any decision made by Leeds Federated staff on the keeping of or restrictions to the keeping of a pet can be reviewed at any time. Any complaints should be made to the Head of Neighbourhood Services in the first instance and a decision will be made within the normal timescales enshrined in the complaints procedure.

There is further information on the law and other issues regarding pets and ownership on the following websites:

www.dogstrust.org.uk
www.cats.org.uk
www.rspca.org.uk

Other websites are available for a wider range of advice on all types of pets.