Page 10 - link magazine

10 LOCAL LIVES
Catching dogs with Tessa
Dogs have been big news lately. So we had a chat with the Borough's one and only dog warden about the job she loves.
The Thamesdown Dog Warden's van pulled up overcome all the training he's had and he's off.
outside and dogcatcher Tessa Pritchard jumped "They'll run in packs and they'll always fight
out, leaving the engine running, "Can't stop, just amongst each other to find who's the top dog. I'd
had a call to pick up a stray over at Windmill Hill like to see a lot more neutering of dogs to modify
Business Park. Want to come along?" their behaviour and to reduce the number of
Well what better than doing an interview over unwanted puppies."
a cup of coffee than seeing the woman on the job? Tessa is also in favour of registration, although
So off we went. she wasn't convinced when she started her job.
Tessa comes fromSwindon and presently lives There are an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 dogs in
inToothill. She's worked with dogs since leaving the Borough, but nobody knows. With a tattoo,
school and when the dog warden job with micro chip or a visible tag, she would be able to
Thamesdown Council came up late last year, she return dogs to their owners and to talk about how
was in there telling the interviewers that it wasn't they should kept more safely. As she says, 'We're
worth talking to anybody else. At the time she given a job to do, but few teeth to do it with."
was improving her knowledgeof Swindon stnts As for dogs teeth, touch wood, she's never
by driving a delivery van. That was just a fill-in been bitten at work. "I know it's tempting fate
job after returning from South Africa where she admitting as much, but you get to know how a
had managed a 500 dog kennel. dog is behaving and whether to approach it or
Arriving at National Power the security guard not. I've got armoured gloves, a pole and a sonic
sentus to thewrong carpark. Justas well because stunner, but rarely use them.
the high-tech offices made a great backdrop for a "I once had a Doberman who thought it was
photo. Finding our way to the front entrance, the going to eat me, but the owner came of the shop
first security guard had obviously radioed an- in time and said it was my uniform which had
other to say we were on our way and she and dog provoked him!"
were outside waiting for the pick-up. Tessa holds the opinion that Dobermans and
After a brief chat about what a nice dog he was round the Borough on patrol. Often she has to Rottweilers are no more dangerous than other
and a chance for pooch to have a sniff at the other concentrate on an area where a dog is repoted dogs. "If it's got teeth, it'll bite you in certain
doggie smells onTessa's trousers and trainers, it wandering around, perhaps its been shut out for situations. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a
was back for the photo call next to the wire cages the day. If she finds it, she persuades it onto her different matter. It's bred to fight and is very
in the rear of the van. Then out came the clip leash and into the van it goes. At other times she's dangerous."
board with the inevitable report form to fill out. called to pick up an animal which has been She doesn't know of any American Pit Bulls in
Tessa discovered how important it was keep caught and needs to be removed. Swindon and feels sorry for the several Staf-
accurate records a few weeks ago when some- If it has identification she'll take it home. If the fordshire Bull Terriers in the area who are ami-
body accused her of taking six hours to pickup a dog can't be identified, she calls at Swindon able animals, but are going to be picked on.
stray, when in fact she had arrived very quickly Police Station to see if it tallies with any reports of As for owners, Tessa believes that the majority
after the report had been made. lost dogs. If she's unsuccessful, it's off to the dog are good, but you sense that her majority is
Sitting in her van keeping the dog (without pound where the animal has seven days to be somewhere around 52%. 'People have got to
identification) company, Tessa described her claimed or found a new home. If not, it's de- become more responsible towards their dogs.
job. When she started as the only Dog Warden stroyed. It's not the dogs fault if it's running the streets or
covering Thamesdown last December, the Bor- In fact destruction rates are low, about 1 in 20 making a noise. Owners not only need to think
ough had been without one for a year. 'There dogs brought into the pound have to be put about how they treat their animals, but also how
were dogs everywhere, individually and run- down. But we're now coming up to her busy other people are affected by them as well.
ning in packs," said Tessa. "I'd go to an estate period says Tessa. "People get their dog at "I reckon my personal motto is 'dogs need
and I wouldn't know where to start!" Christmas, but at this time of the year they're better owners."
However she got in there and rounded them thinking of holidays and some, rather than pay At that point the radio crackled. " calling
up. Six months later, many of the complaints kennel fees, will just kick them out before they go No. 41 ....we've gotanotherdog foryou to pickup
about stray dogs are made before and after she away and get another when they come back. in Westminster Road,Toothill. He's wandering
comes on duty. She reckons that some owners Apart from abandoned dogs, the warm weather the streets and has nearly caused two accidents."
know the hours she works and will control their and the mating season create problems for own- And that was our interview over. As Tessa
animals during the day to avoid the aggravation ers and for Tessa. "Even the best owners have pulled on her seat belt she said, "Just let them
of talking to her if she has to come round. problems. If a dog can smell another ready to know there's only one dog warden to cover
Tessa's day is normally taken up with driving mate a few miles away, his instincts will often Thamesdown, so I can't be everywhere."

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