Pet ownership

The council will not allow pets in sheltered or very sheltered complexes (except for outlying cottages), all multi storey blocks and certain other tenements. 

If you currently live in one of these blocks, check with your Housing and Support Officer before you purchase a pet or if you are moving to one of these blocks and you currently have a pet. 

Pet bans are in place at the current addresses: 

• Ashgrove Court 
• Ash-Hill Place
• Aulton Court 
• Auskerry Avenue (1-71 and 71-141)
• Balgownie Court 
• Balmoral Court (1-58) 
• Bayview Court 
• Beachview Court 
• Beechwood Court 
• Berrymoss Court 
• Brimmond Court 
• Bruce House (1-46) 
• Cairncry Court 
• Cairngorm Place (2-48) 
• Castleton Court 
• Charlie Devine Court (10-44) 
• Clifton Court 
• Constitution Court 
• Constitution Lane 
• Constitution Street (2 and 4) 
• Cornhill Court 
• Coronation Court (1-33) 
• Davidson House (1-46) 
• Denburn Court 
• Denmore Court (1-34) 
• Denseat Court (1-48) 
• Dominies Court 
• Donside Court 
• Donview House 
• Eden Place (7 and 9) 
• Elphinstone Court 
• Fairley Den 
• Fountain Grange 
• Fullerton Court 
• Gairn Court (1-56) 
• Gairsay Court (1-71 and 72-114)
• Gilcomstoun Land 
• Grampian Court 
• Grandholm Court 
• Granitehill House 
• Gray Court (1-36)
• Great Northern Road (735) 
• Greig Court 
• Hamewith 
• Hilton Court 
• Hutcheon Court 
• Hoy Place (1-30, 31-59, 60-88 and 89-117)
• Inverdon Court 
• Janesfield Manor (12-52) 
• Kincorth Land (1-52) 
• Kings Court 
• Lewis Court (1-33) 
• Linksfield Court 
• Loch Court 
• Lord Hays Court 
• Margaret Clyne Court (1-41) 
• Marischal Court 
• Mark Bush Court (1-49) 
• Mastrick Land 
• Meadow Court 
• Morven Court 
• Murray Court 
• North Balnagask Road (231-301) 
• Northsea Court 
• Oldcroft Court 
• Parkhill Court 
• Porthill Court 
• Promenade Court 
• Provost Hogg Court 
• Quarryhill Court (1-30) 
• Regensburg Court 
• Regent Court 
• Rorie Court 
• Rose House (1-46) 
• Rosehill Court 
• Seamount Court 
• Seaton House
• Seaview House 
• Short Loanings (8-18) 
• Smithfield Court 
• South Constitution Street 
• St Clements Court 
• St Machar Court 
• St Ninian Court 
• Stewart Park Court 
• Stocket Grange (1-42) 
• Stockethill Court 
• Thistle Court 
• Tillydrone Court 
• Transay Court 
• Victoria Road (382-392) 
• Virginia Court 
• Wallace House (1-46) 
• Woodhill Court 

Microchipping is the best way of you being reunited with your pet should they become lost or stolen. 

We recommend that all pets are microchipped. A collar and tag can fall off or be removed, but a microchip is a more permanent way to identify your pet and keep them safe. 

On 6 April 2016 the law was changed so that all dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped. The law states that: 

• Owner details must be kept up-to-date and stored with an approved database company. 

Even though your dog has been microchipped, they must still wear a collar and tag with your contact details on when in public. 

• If your dog is scanned and found not to have a microchip, you'll have 21 days to get them microchipped. If you don't, you'll face a fine of £500. 

It is the law for all dogs to wear a collar with the name and address of their owner inscribed on the collar, or on a tag attached to the collar. 

Certain dogs are exempt from having to wear such a collar. These include any dog registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

For further information, please see Article 2 of the Control of Dogs Order 1992. 

A dog is considered to be dangerous if it is of a type banned under the terms of the Dangerous Dog Act 1991, e.g., Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro and Dogo Argentino. 

This includes: 

• Any cross breeds who have been bred for fighting, or; 
• Has the appearance of a dog bred for fighting. 

It is considered unacceptable for these breeds to live in a Council property. If a resident wishes to challenge the banned status, they should contact Police Scotland. 

XL Bully dogs 

The rules have changed if you own an XL Bully dog in Scotland. It is an offence to: 

• Have an XL Bully in public without a lead and muzzle 
• Breed or breed from an XL Bully dog 
• Sell an XL Bully dog 
• Abandon an XL Bully dog or let it stray 
• Give away an XL Bully dog

More information on XL Bully dogs in Scotland can be found via the Scottish Government website. 

An "exotic" pet is one which is "not a native habitant" or is "non-domestic" in the UK. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 as amended, lists the animals which are required to have a licence before they can be kept. 

If you are in doubt, please seek advice from Environmental Health. 

It is not permitted to keep any animal whose diet includes live animals and insects in a Council property. 

No animal classified as "Dangerous Wild Animal" in terms of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 as amended, be kept in Council housing. A licence is mandatory for keeping such animals. If a tenant is in any doubt about an animal they may wish to own, then professional advice should be sought. 

Tenants will also not be allowed to keep any large farm animals. Small farm animals will be considered on an individual basis. consideration being given to noise levels, proximity to neighbouring properties and housing conditions of the animals. 

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 makes it an offence to ignore picking up any dog poo within any public space (this includes a shared garden area). Any must be picked up and disposed of immediately. 

Tenants are required to ensure that their dog is always under control, both in public and common areas of the property. Should the tenant fail to do this they may become subject to legal action under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. 

If your dog or any other type of pet is either stray or pooing in gardens/footpaths, or otherwise causing what may be construed as a nuisance, e,g., excessive barking, this will be brought to the attention of the Dog Warden who may take further action. 

Reports of tenants keeping dangerous dogs or otherwise allowing it to act in a dangerous manner in a public place will be reported to Police Scotland. 

In cases of nuisance from pets, advice will be sought from Environmental Health and Community Safety Teams. The Anti-Social Behaviour team are able to witness acts of excessive barking or other anti-social behaviour. 

Where evidence exists that the pet has been causing a nuisance or is not being looked after in an appropriate manner, a Housing and Support Officer will be advised and will contact the tenant to warn them that if such conduct persists, potential legal action may be taken. 

If the Council receives information of any anti-social behaviour from an animal, the Housing and Support Officer or other appropriate person may visit your home to investigate the complaint and to ensure that the property is suitable to house the animal. We will do our best to work with you to find a solution to the problem. In some cases where the issue cannot be resolved, you may be asked to rehome your pet. 

If the pet is not rehomed and the problems continue, the Council may refer the matter to our legal team for action. You would be kept advised of the situation and of any evidence we had obtained. You can report a concern relating to dog control below.