Swindon Council welcomes new animal warden to raise awareness of responsible ownership

With experience of working in a zoo and vets, Jordan McEwan is more than equipped to tackle her new role as Swindon Borough Council’s Animal Warden.

The 23-year-old, who has moved from Scotland to Swindon to take the position, is naturally a big animal lover, especially of dogs, which fuels her determination to encourage residents to think carefully before they take on a pet.

She said: “Having an animal, particularly dogs, is tremendously rewarding but it’s also a huge responsibility. All too often people get one without considering the hard work, time, cost and overall commitment involved. Part of my role is to raise awareness of this and urge everyone to be kind, not cruel, to all animals.”

In 2016 a total of 218 stray dogs were reported to the council, a third of which were unclaimed. The most common breed affected are Staffordshire Bull Terriers which may be particularly prone to this plight because they are so readily available and cheap.

“Staffies are wonderful dogs and, despite their reputation, can be big softies. But because they are so common and easy to get hold of, people sometimes rush in without thinking about all the implications of owning one,” Jordan said.

“It’s so sad because they make lovely pets, although can be a handful if you don’t take ownership seriously. That’s often when the problems set in and instead of sticking at it, people cruelly discard them or report them to us as a stray.”

In the run up to Christmas six dogs were handed in as strays and following investigations three of the owners were tracked down and admitted they were abandoned because the dog had chewed furniture. Another had moved to a house, where dogs were not permitted.

Jordan said: “This really upsets me because the dogs are basically victims of people’s irresponsibility and lack of proper care or planning. People often let their hearts rather than their heads make decisions when it comes to pet ownership, so my message is not to act on impulse but to think really carefully and factor everything in. I’d love to own a dog again but will have to wait until my living arrangements allow it, hopefully not too far in the future. Fortunately I have a bearded dragon called Kaz instead.”

As well as picking up stray dogs and liaising with owners, part of Jordan’s job will involve working with local schools, in partnership with the Blue Cross and other groups, to develop this sense of responsible ownership and care from an early age.

She said: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve always loved animals and wanted to work with them. I think it’s really important to instil this early on.”

With an internship at a family-run zoo in Scotland and a stint as a veterinary care assistant already under her belt, Jordan already has a wealth of experience working with all sorts of animals.

She said: “I looked after the primates and small mammals in the zoo, which was fantastic. As a family, we’ve owned lots of dogs, as well as guinea pigs, rabbits and reptiles. I’ve also helped all these animals and so many others working in a vets. It’s definitely a labour of love and I’m really looking forward to developing my skills and passion in this role.”

Cllr Oliver Donachie, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Animal Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jordan to the Council and wish her every success in her new role. Hopefully she will be able to bring her expertise to help us continue delivering excellent standards in this area, as shown by the RSPCA awards the team has won for its work with stray dogs. It’s a sad and shameful fact that so many dogs are abandoned in the Borough. Educating people about the significant responsibilities dog ownership entails is really important and it’s never too early to learn the basics and also start to nurture a compassionate and caring attitude towards all animals.”

To report a lost or found dog to the Council, please call: (01793) 445500