The responsibilities of the council dog warden

Within the UK every council has a responsibility to enforce the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Section 149 deals specifically with stray dogs and dog wardens, also known as animal welfare officers, are appointed by the council to deal specifically with this issue.
The Dog Warden's job is varied and requires a wide range of skills. They are not only responsible for the control of stray dogs and dog fouling and investigating any welfare complaints made by the public but they are also involved in promoting responsible ownership. This may include visiting schools where they will teach children about their responsibility as a pet owner.
Dog Wardens have the power to issue penalty fines to people who refuse to clean up after their pets, they can apprehend stray dogs and investigate any noise nuisance caused by barking dogs and take appropriate action. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Dog Act 1879 also gives the warden the power to seize and detain any dog deemed as dangerous.
A Dog Wardens must not only have an in-depth knowledge of the animals they deal with and their requirements but they must also have the ability to build strong relationships with the public. However, the main priority of the dog warden is to enforce the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The act consists of 5 main principles:
Ensuring the animal has a suitable place to live
Ensuring the animal is fed a healthy diet
Ensuring the animal has the company it needs whether it be with people or other animals
Ensuring the animal behaves in an acceptable manner at all times
Ensuring the animal is kept safe and healthy at all times.
Enforcing this act can make the warden's job very difficult and any incident reported of a dog being treated unfairly must be investigated.
In some circumstances this may result in a dog being 'seized' or removed from a premises. Not all pet owners are cooperative in this type of situation and things may quickly become heated. Often working alone, the warden's lone worker safety is paramount and he or she must therefore become proficient in the management of confrontation along with their many other skills.