Privacy notice dog warden service

Our dog warden services privacy notice explains how we use your personal information and tells you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you. We also explain how we use your information to administer our obligations and functions in relation to our dog warden service. This includes complaints relating to dogs and maintenance of the stray dog register.

Information we collect

The information that we collect and hold can include:

  • contact details (this will include address, email addresses and telephone numbers)
  • finder and owner details (name, address, email addresses contact telephone numbers)
  • complaints
  • letters to owners
  • details of enforcement actions such as failing to microchip a dog
  • your information that is shared with us from other authorities

Details from payment cards used are encrypted and stored in accordance with requirements.

Why we collect this information

We use your information as we have a statutory duty to maintain a stray dog register and to investigate complaints relating to dogs. The information we obtain and maintain assists with the delivery of these functions.

Who we might share your information with

We might share your information with the following:

  • our other departments, for example we may share details of dog fouling complaints with our cleansing department or its contractor to assist with street scene issues - we may also share information with revenues and benefits, community safety and council tax enquiries
  • other local authorities and other partners to support the delivery of our statutory functions
  • our contractor to assist in facilitating the provision of the kennelling of stray dogs, including details of finders and owners with our contractor to allow dogs to be re-united with their owners
  • Sussex Police and the RSPCA, and other authorities relating to the dog warden service - disclosures of personal data to law enforcement agencies are permitted by data protection legislation for the prevention or detection of crime, or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders
  • outside organisations for trends and monitoring purposes - this data will not not contain identifiable or personal data

In addition we may also record your telephone call for training and monitoring purposes and when we receive complaints regarding dogs and/or owners, information provided may be stored, including social media postings, photographs and personal details.

Information we collect

The information that we collect and hold can include:

  • contact details (this will include address, email addresses and telephone numbers)
  • finder and owner details (name, address, email addresses contact telephone numbers)
  • complaints
  • letters to owners
  • details of enforcement actions such as failing to microchip a dog
  • your information that is shared with us from other authorities

Details from payment cards used are encrypted and stored in accordance with requirements.

How long we keep your information

We retain your data in accordance with a retention schedule. Inspection reports and complaints are retained for 7 years.

Your rights

You do have some legal rights in respect of the personal information we collect from you. Please see our Privacy policy page for further details.

If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, you should raise your concern with us in the first instance or directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office at: https://ico.org.uk/concerns/.

You can also contact our Data Protection Officer by email at data.protection@arun.gov.uk.