Community Information: PET ACTION PROTOCOL
1) DOGS OFF LEASH, CONTINUOUS BARKING AND WASTE
ACTION:
- Advise Security directly.
- Security will obtain photographic proof and will advise the owner/tenant of this event, reporting to the Administration.
- On the THIRD notice, the event will be reported to the Municipal Police by Security/the Administration.
- The owner affected by barking must REPORT this to the Municipal Police if it persists.
Security will have to comply with municipal regulations so that dogs are on a lead at all times in public areas, and so that they are not running loose and cannot leave their waste in grass areas, streets or pavements on the resort. They will ensure that owners clean up any mess made by their pets.
Security will take a dated photo of the unsupervised animal with a digital camera. If the owner of the dog is present, he will be asked for identification. If he is not, Security will attempt to locate him.
On the second notice, Security will then prepare a Voluntary Report sheet which will be provided by the Council. One sheet from this form will then be sent to the Local Police with a request for them to issue a fine. (PENDING CONFIRMATION FROM LOCAL POLICE IN ALHAMA)
The image from the camera will be used as proof of the offence. Security will not photograph any persons under any circumstances, only the dog. If for any inadvertent reason the photo captures the facial features of a person, these will be deleted so as to make them unrecognisable.The Community must be aware of the limitations of the camera when nocturnal images are taken.
Owners of dogs who are sanctioned will be notified. Unpaid fines will levy a surcharge. Anyone not residing permanently on the Resort should be aware of this and not ignore notification of the fine.
Security will work according to a protocol which will define the steps they must take. The protocol will try to achieve an appropriate, balanced and proportionate focus on the matter of dog waste.
It is reminded that in Spain all dogs are required to carry a microchip. If not, the owner may be fined. For greater control, all dogs on Condado de Alhama are required to be registered at the Administrator’s office.
2) DANGEROUS DOG BREEDS
The following breeds of dog are considered to be dangerous in Spain:
- Pit bull terriers - Argentinian Dogo
- Staffordshire bull terriers - Brazilian Fila
- American Staffordshire terriers - TosaInu
- Rottweiler - Akita Inu
Other breeds with similar features or behaviour may also be classed as dangerous if found in public areas.
These dogs must wear a muzzle and be on a lead in public places. Failure to comply with this regulation will lead to a fine of up to 5000€ for the owner. All dangerous breeds of dog must be registered with Alhama de Murcia council.
Security will carry a register with the location of dogs classed as dangerous on Condado de Alhama. Their owners will be asked to take part in creating this register.
ACTION.- When a dangerous dog is located in a public area, either unsupervised or without a muzzle, Security will take a photo of the animal with a digital camera. Security will identify the owner and report the incident to the Civil Guard for them to take action.
The image from the camera will be used as proof of the offence. Security will not photograph any persons under any circumstances, only the dog. If for any inadvertent reason the photo captures the facial features of a person, these will be deleted so as to make them unrecognisable.
The Community must be aware of the limitations of the camera when nocturnal images are taken.
Owners of dogs who are sanctioned will be notified. Unpaid fines will levy a surcharge. Anyone not residing permanently on the Resort should be aware of this and not ignore notification of the fine.
Security will work according to a protocol which will define the steps they must take. The protocol will try to achieve an appropriate, balanced and proportionate focus on the matter of the ownership of dangerous dogs.
3) UNATTENDED ANIMALS
ACTION:
- Advise the Administration directly.
- On the THIRD notice, from different owners, the owner will be contacted.
- If 3 further complaints are received, the Police will be notified of the problem, by
REPORTING this to the Municipal Police.
Dogs/cats left unattended in a property, which cause disruption through constant noise, must be reported to the Administrator, who on receiving 3 complaints from different residents, will contact the owner of the property in order for the disruption to cease. If the situation stays the same and 3 other additional complaints are received, the Local Police will be notified of the problem and the owners of the property and the owners of the animal (if they are different people) may be reported.
