It is a real privilege to care for and enjoy the company of our pets, but as well as looking after their welfare, we have a responsibility to other families living around us. As owners, do we let ourselves down in the face of the dog control lobby, simply because too many of us forget our responsibilities towards others?

Firstly, I have always believed that every dog owner must collect and dispose of their dog’s faeces whenever it is possible to do so safely. The local community and council must ensure that dog loos or bins are sited sensibly and frequently enough to encourage this and make the long trek with the full, swinging bag a thing of the past. However, equally obligatory is the need to worm our pets regularly, at least every 2 months but, if a worm is never to be “seen”, monthly. Few, if any, worm eggs will then ever be able to reach the local environment, which has a big positive effect on human welfare. There is a wide variety of worming products available and your veterinary practice would be very happy to advise you.

As a pet owner, I wish to minimise our dogs’ effect on the local environment, to be able to enjoy the countryside responsibly (shutting gates, observing DEFRA restrictions in the Bluetongue and Foot & Mouth areas and definitely not letting dogs chase or worry livestock) and let dogs off-lead so that people and dogs can interact safely and rewardingly.

In common with other veterinary practices, we too have a real responsibility to actively encourage pet citizenship, from puppyhood onwards; to promote full pet traceability by use of microchips; to encourage and promote health checks, preferably every six months; to discuss the principles of pet insurance, which does also include third party cover; and even to initiate a modern dog licensing programme, which rather than being a source of income for the local authorities would be ring-fenced to pay for those facilities so necessary for the enjoyment of owning or sharing a pet.

I look forward to talking to you again next month, and any topics for discussion or debate on this feature will be welcomed. (Sorry, no individual cases)

Email questions to: editor@ctinthevale.co.uk