Dangerous dogs

You can report a dangerous dog or an attack on our dangerous dogs webpage.

If you or your dog has been attacked, seek medical or veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Welfare and neglect

If you are concerned about the welfare of a dog, you can report it to the RSPCA.  Signs of neglect include:

• poor body condition
• untreated injuries
• lack of shelter
• no access to food or clean water

Dogs in cars

Dogs should not be left in cars, but some modern ones have dog-safe modes. If you see a distressed dog in a car:

• take note of the time, temperature and car details
• call Kent Police as soon as you can
• contact the RSPCA

Buying a dog

We advise that you use a responsible breeder when buying a new pet. A responsible breeder will:

• be licensed and listed on our register
• allow you to see the puppy with its mother
• provide documents on microchipping, vaccinations, and health checks

They should also meet the five welfare needs:

• companionship
• behaviour
• housing
• health
• diet

If you suspect your neighbor is breeding dogs without a licence, you should first check our register. If they are not listed, you can report them to us by emailing animalwelfare@maidstone.gov.uk. For more information, please visit our animal licensing pages.

Dog boarding

If you are going on holiday, you should use a licensed boarding kennel. These businesses are inspected and registered on the Public Register. Before choosing a boarding facility, you should:

• look at the reviews and find references
• visit the location first
• check that they have insurance
• look at their emergency plans

If you are paying someone to look after your dog, they may need to have a license.

Professional dog walkers

We run a professional dog walking scheme and publish a list of approved dog walkers.

Rehome your dog

If you can no longer care for your dog, you should contact local rescue centres or the RSPCA. Do not attempt to sell or give away dogs online without proper checks.