Not Sure Who to Call About an Animal Welfare Issue?
We regularly receive calls from people who are concerned about an animal’s welfare but are unsure who is responsible or who they should contact. This can include situations involving pets, stray animals, livestock, wildlife, or concerns about cruelty or neglect.
To help with this, we are sharing a useful guidance leaflet for the Hampshire area:
👉 Animal Welfare – Who Is Responsible for What?
Read the leaflet here
What does the leaflet cover?
This leaflet explains who to contact for a wide range of animal welfare issues, including:
- Animal cruelty or neglect
- Stray and abandoned dogs
- Dangerous or out-of-control dogs
- Sick or injured wildlife
- Farm animals and horses
- Licensing of breeders, boarding establishments and pet sellers
- Noise nuisance such as persistent dog barking
It clearly sets out the responsibilities of:
- Animal owners and keepers
- Local councils
- The police
- The RSPCA and other agencies
Why this matters
Knowing the correct organisation to contact helps ensure that concerns are dealt with quickly and effectively, and prevents delays caused by reports being passed between agencies.
If you are worried about an animal in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight, this leaflet is an excellent first point of reference and may answer your question immediately.
Please note: This guidance applies to the Hampshire area and responsibilities may differ in other parts of the country.