JSPCA
DOG OWNERS GUIDE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE FACT SHEET
Dogs in the countryside:
Whether ambling along the green
lanes, rambling through the woods or strolling along the cliff paths,
Jersey is a beautiful place for walking and for you and your dog to enjoy.
However, as a responsible pet owner, it is important to follow a few pointers to help keep your pet safe, as well as protect the environment:
To help prevent your dog from becoming lost, never let it out of sight when on a walk and train it to come back immediately when called. Remember, every dog must have an identity tag on its collar displaying its name, the name of the owner and a contact telephone number. These tag details will be used to help quickly trace the owner of any straying or lost dogs.
Control your dog so that it does not scare or disturb wildlife or farm animals.
If a farm animal, such as a cow, chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – do not risk getting seriously hurt by trying to protect your dog. A farm animal may chase you and your dog if it has young or has been worried by dogs in the past. If chased, it is safer to let your dog off the lead to get away and distract the farm animal away from you.
Take particular care that your dog does not scare sheep and lambs, or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife – eggs and young will soon die without the protection from their parents.
It is very important to ensure that all dog owners are aware of their duty to clean up after their dogs and dispose of the mess responsibly.
Remember in England and Wales, by Law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
A guide for dog owners :
1.
help keep the countryside and its wildlife safe:
Even well behaved, friendly dogs can scare birds and other animals away from their young. Their eggs or chicks could then become cold and may die, or get eaten by other animals or birds.
Some rare species of birds are most sensitive in winter when they roost on the ground, as they can become exhausted and die if frequently disturbed.
Make sure your dog doe not chase any wildlife. This can cause injury and stress to both wildlife and your dog - especially if your pet gets lost, or runs across a road.
Keep your dog close to you so it does not sniff out and disturb nesting birds during the spring and early summer.
Follow official signs and advice in areas containing sensitive wildlife.
2.
Respect farmers and their livestock:
Keep up good relations with farmers by:
Keeping your dog on the lead near farm animals, to prevent injury to them and your dog.
Be especially alert when there are lambs and other farm animals nearby; being chased by a dog can kill young animals, so give animals plenty of space. Your dog is also more likely to be attacked by parent animals at this time.
Make sure your dog is wormed at least once a year, preferably every three months. Your vet can suggest suitable products.
Clear up after your dog, removing all dog waste, and dispose of it responsibly and appropriately. Dog waste can cause infections in people and other animals and affect the special soils that some rare plants need to survive.
3.
Consider other animals and walkers when out with your dog:
Some people can feel very uncomfortable if even the most friendly, tail-wagging, pet approaches them. Even just one bad experience can make people, especially children, frightened of dogs for life. Therefore:
Look out for joggers, horse riders and cyclists. They can startle your dog, or your dog can startle them, can cause an injury or accident, so it would be recommended to put our dog on the lead as they pass.
Do not let your dog approach other people or their dogs unless you are sure they are happy with this.
Safety tips when out walking
with your dog:
o If you are walking near traffic or at night, reflective or flashing dog coats, collars and leads can help drivers see your pet.
o Throwing sticks can cause horrific injuries to dogs. Instead, play with an indestructible plastic toy from a pet store, making sure that the toy is big enough not to be swallowed by the dog.
o Avoid exercising your dog for at least an hour before and after meals.
o Avoid heat stroke by making sure your dog gets plenty of shade and clean, fresh water to drink.
o
Do not let your pet drink any water that doesn’t look clean
– it may be contaminated and make your pet very ill.
The following handy tips are to help offer advice and guidance with some of the emergency situations that may arise when out for a walk with your dog, during those initial moment before you can obtain advice from a veterinary surgeon:
Road traffic accidents,
fractures and falls:
o Keep calm so as not to cause panic
o Make sure that you and your dog are not in further danger; keep the dog warm.
o If you need to move the dog out of danger, do so slowly and gently. If it cannot walk, use a coat, board or blanket as a stretcher.
o Try to stem blood flow from cuts with a pad and firm pressure; press around any foreign objects – such as broken glass or metal – to avoid pushing them further in.
o Internal injuries are not always obvious; contact your vet immediately if your pet is off colour within 24 hours of an accident.
Poisoning:
o Many garden and agricultural chemicals can be attractive to dogs, but they can also be fatal. Never let your pet out of your sight or let it eat what it finds when out for a walk. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, phone the vet immediately and keep any labels, containers or samples with you to help the vet decide the best treatment.
Heat stroke:
o This occurs to dogs in warm weather, especially if they have been exercised in hot weather or if left in cars, even on moderately warm days. Dogs with heat exhaustion will pant excessively and may vomit, collapse, have fits, or experience difficulty in breathing. If heat stroke/exhaustion occurs in a dog
o Keep the dog calm. Move it into the shade, a cool room or building, or near a fan or breeze
o Cool all of your dog with water
o Let you dog drink small amounts of cool water frequently
o Call the vet.
Insect stings:
o If a sting is left in your dog, scrape it away with a fingernail or credit card; do not squeeze or grasp it. Cool the area with a wet cloth to help reduce the pain and swelling. If there is severe or obvious swelling in the throat or mouth, or if the animal is showing signs of illness, contact the veterinary surgery immediately.
Adder Bites:
o If your dog is bitten by an adder, keep it still and calm.
o If possible, do not allow it to walk; carry it instead.
o Leave the bite wound alone and contact a veterinary surgeon immediately.
o Fortunately, there are no adders in Jersey, but there are adders present in certain areas of the UK.
Ticks:
o These parasites are particularly encountered in the spring and autumn months, especially where sheep and deer live.
o
You should check your dog’s coat for ticks every day and
remove them immediately as they can spread harmful diseases.
Ticks must not be squeezed or pulled off.
Contact your veterinary surgery and ask how tick removal is best
achieved.
What to do if your dog goes
missing:
The
JSPCA Animals’ Shelter strongly recommends micro-chipping
pets for identification purposes. Micro-chipping
is a permanent method of identifying an animal.
Micro-chipping is a simple process involving injecting a
small micro-chip about the size of a grain of rice under the skin at the
back of the neck or between the animal’s shoulder blades.
The micro-chip contains a unique number that can be read using a
special hand held scanner. The
owner’s personal contact details are stored on a central computer
database, which can be accessed, 24 hours a day, by the appropriate
authorities on identification of the unique micro-chip number.
It is a
requirement by Law in Jersey that all dogs aged 6 months or more must be
licensed in the Parish in which the owner is resident.
In Jersey it is also a legal requirement that all dogs must have a
dog tag on its collar displaying its name, the name of the owner and a
contact number and address. These details will be used to help quickly trace the owner of any
straying or lost dogs.
If your dog becomes lost whilst
on Jersey, it is the Parish Centeniers that are responsible for the
collection of stray dogs. Therefore,
contact the Parish Hall and advise them that your dog is missing.
If your dog becomes lost in the
UK, it is likely to be picked up by a local authority dog warden, an animal
welfare or rescue organisation, or the Police.
Other ways that may help you to find your dog include:
o Contacting Petlog (a micro-chip database) immediately if your dog is missing and is micro-chipped. Petlog telephone number = 0870 606 6751.
o Search the area in which you last saw your dog
o Leave your contact details and a picture/description of your pet with as many people as possible
o Advertise in the “lost” section of local newspapers – read the “Found” adverts too
o Call the dog warden (if in UK), local veterinary practices, the Police and the Centeniers (if in Jersey)
o Visit nearby animal welfare and rescue centres. Try and ensure that you look into each enclosure
o Call local radio stations that may announce lost and found pets
o Put up posters in pet shops, vets, supermarkets, local stores and post offices
o Keep an up to date photograph of your pet
o Remember not to restrict your search to just one small area. Dogs can stray for long distances.
JSPCA working to
“prevent cruelty, promote knowledge, provide for aged,
sick, lost and unwanted animals.”
Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(Inc.)
Founded 1868 – Incorporated 1936
89 St Saviour’s Road, St
Helier, Jersey JE2 4GJ
Tel: 01534 724331
Fax: 01534 871797
E-mail: info@jspca.org.je Website: www.jspca.org.je
References and
further reading:
States of Jersey Environment Department
The Countryside Agency - "the Countryside Code" - www.countrysideaccess.gov.je