A DOG watch programme has been relaunched to encourage responsible ownership.

Working with the council, Essex Wildlife Trust and Essex Police, Southend Neighbourhood Watch is relaunching its Dog Watch scheme on April 13 in a roadshow event at Gunners Park, Shoebury, between 10am and 2pm.

The Southend Borough Dog Warden will be on hand at the event to free provide free dog microchipping, ahead of the compulsory microchipping of dogs becoming law in April 2016.

The Southend Dog Watch Scheme was designed to address issues concerning dogs being walked in public places such as local parks.

At the relaunch, regular dog walkers in Gunners Park will be asked to sign up to the scheme, which seeks to share information about missing and stray dogs, encourage registered members to report incidents of nuisance, dog fouling, and anti-social behaviour involving dogs, keep membersinformed of dog-related matters and encourage fellow dog walkers to act responsibly via peer pressure.

The organisation stresses that involvement in the scheme is strictly non-confrontational and advises the encouragement of other dog walkers to act responsibly should be by example and gentle persuasion.