The big picture: The contract fulfils the council's legal duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to handle stray dogs within the borough.
Why it matters: The service is essential for public safety and animal welfare. West End Rehoming also operates a rescue unit that tries to find new homes for unclaimed strays. Without such services, many stray dogs would face being put down.
The details:
Contract runs from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2029
West End Rehoming was the only bidder for the specialist service
Company is based in Buxhall, Suffolk
They already provide similar services to other Suffolk councils
All dogs taken in receive flea treatment, worming and microchipping
What they're saying: A council officer noted that "this is a specialist service and only provided by a limited number of suppliers, very few of which are within reasonable proximity of Ipswich."
The bottom line: The £180,000 cost will be met from the council's existing annual core service budget, with no additional funding required.
