Maidstone Borough Council 7 RK9 Responsible Dog Ownership


No one can deny the pleasure that owning a dog can bring and the many ways in which pet ownership


enriches our lives. Dogs have been considered one of man's best friends for thousands of years. The science supports this as it has long been recognised that the companionship, comfort and the sense of wellbeing provided by a pet can decrease loneliness, isolation and depression whilst engendering a sense of security and the desire to nurture among both adults and children alike. Walking a dog has obvious health benefits and often facilitates social interaction within the community; therefore it is hardly surprising that it is widely believed that owning a dog is good for us!


Our Responsible K9 (RK9) initiative supports this belief and recognises that the majority of dog owners do behave responsibly, caring for pets and fulfilling both their legal and moral obligations. However, the same cannot be said of a small minority of owners whose behaviour, and consequently the manner in which they allow their dogs to behave, is at best irresponsible and at worst, antisocial and in some instances, criminal.


It is with this very much at heart and our desire to improve our streets and local environment that we seek to promote and encourage responsible dog ownership, whilst also tackling those antisocial behaviours that all too often give our much loved pets a bad name. Our primary objectives are threefold:


 Promote and celebrate responsible dog ownership  Empower neighbourhoods to tackle irresponsible dog ownership


 Reduce dog fouling, number of strays and dog related anti- social behaviour


What have we achieved to date this year?


Over the last year, because of the recent changes in legislation around microchipping, we have attended and hosted a number of events to raise awareness and promote responsible ownership.


 8 events attended so far in 2016  400 dogs microchipped in partnership with the Dog’s Trust.  150 dog tags sold at events  Our dog shows have raised over £700 for charities such as Battersea Home for Dogs and Cats.


Dates for your doggy diaries:  30 July - Parkwood Fete - microchipping  27 August - Coxheath Dogtastic


 11 September - The Big Walkies charity event in Mote Park


 17 – 18 September Paws in the Park Nice to see so many Responsible dog owners out there.


We estimate well over 1,500 dog owners have attended the various events hosted in the borough and have benefitted from the advice we have given regarding changes in the law, microchipping as well as other routine dog enquiries.


We are delighted to be meeting so many of you and sharing our knowledge whilst out and about.


Why not stay in touch by visiting the RK9 Facebook page?


www.facebook.com/ResponsibleK9s


Bag that poo, any rubbish bin will do!


We are set to launch a campaign to help educate dog owners about how to clean up after their pet as changes to bins are made across the borough.


Residents can now dispose of their dog poo in any litter bins in the borough, including those in parks but the message is – just make sure it’s bagged before it goes in!


We want to make it as easy as possible for dog owners to dispose of their pets’ poo. Any responsible dog owner will always ensure this is bagged up and put into the nearest bin. This won’t change but they can now put it into any litter bin as well.


Look out for further information at www.maidstone.gov.uk Injecting the ‘colour’ back into local community play areas.


A number of well-loved local parks are receiving a much needed facelift in time for summer fun.


As part of the phased scheme of park improvements the following areas were identified and selected for the initial phase of work:


Whatman Skate Area, Peverel Drive, Stratford Drive, Foxden Drive, Gatland Lane, Timber Tops, Nettlestead Green, Adisham Drive, St Francis Close, Gallants Lane and Albert Reed Garden


All works are due to be completed by the end of July in time for the summer holidays.


We are also delighted to announce that Clare Park has retained its Green Flag status with an outstanding score of between 70 - 74%.


The park was Maidstone’s first green space to be awarded this recognition and benefits from a range of family- friendly amenities including multi- purpose games area, woodland and conservation areas, hard footpaths,


benches, public toilets and family picnic areas.


We hope you’ll continue to enjoy using these brighter, cleaner and more inviting areas for many years to come.


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