A LOVE of animals and an instinct of reading their behaviour is essential for an animal warden.

Southend Council's warden, Valerie Howells, possesses both of these qualities, needed when dealing with strays or helping police to seize dangerous dogs.

Val is the friendly face who comes to the rescue of lost or stray dogs reported by caring members of the public.

She also has responsibility for pet shop inspections, issuing their licences, microchipping dogs with owners' contact details, dealing with noise complaints, dog fouling, and working with the RSPCA in animal welfare cases.

The Echo joined Val and her own dog Shadow on a morning out and helped to reunite one lost dog with its frantic owner.

We were called to Lifstan Way, Southend, to collect a Staffordshire bull terrier found running along the road in the rain.

Resident Anne Collen said: "He was just going backwards and forwards along the road. I opened the door and he just scuttled in. He was quite exuberant and friendly and went running around the house even jumping on the beds."

Mrs Collen called her local vet who gave her the number to report the dog as found.

Val recognised him, having picked him up the week before.

At the time, she gave the owners a warning to get their fence fixed to stop him escaping and to update the records of his microchip.

Titan, seven months old, was returned to his owner Kerry Wilson, in Oakleigh Avenue, four roads along from where he was found.

Kerry, 24, said: "I'd been looking for him for half an hour. The fence has a hole in and the landlord hasn't fixed it yet. I'm so grateful to the lady who took him in."

After a few stern words from Val and an on-the-spot fine of £25 for returning the dog, we were on our way.

The warden service has become much busier since the duty for strays passed from the police to local authorities.

Val's day starts at 8am when she checks with the overnight kennels at a veterinary practice which is set up as the drop- off point for people who find strays at night.

Val has to empty these kennels for the vet's use, and take them to another venue in Thundersley.

As the only warden, she responds to calls about strays during weekdays and picks them up. Any whose owners have not been found by the end of the day, go to the kennel.

Owners then have seven days to collect their dog, or they are rehomed.

Every dog is scanned for a microchip, but many don't have them, or don't even have a collar and tag.

Val, 50, said: "Owners need to act quickly and check if their dog has been handed in or picked up by us.

"There is a £25 fee for me to return a dog, plus any travelling costs, and if they go to the kennels then the cost is £64 plus a daily boarding charge of £11.50 on top, for however many days the dog is with us, up to the seven-day detention period."

She added: "Legally dogs should wear a collar and tag.

"I promote, and carry out microchipping. It makes my life easier and is a way of proving a dog is yours. But it is vital records are updated if you move, or a dog is given away. It can be very frustrating when we can't trace an owner."

A change in legislation means police deal with dangerous dog issues, and Val can only advise on the subject.

She is called on to help seize dogs which are dangerous or have attacked people.

She said: "I assist the police because I am trained. But a lot of it is instinct, being able to read a dog's behaviour through experience, it can't be taught.

"I recently went to pick up an abandoned Staffie in Shoebury and it was stuck in a stairwell in a block of flats and absolutely petrified.

"It's tail was down and it even soiled itself. It was growling and barking at everyone, but once I got it out and was talking to it, it was calm and even sat on my lap."

The RSPCA tend to deal with cats and animal welfare issues, although Val has certain powers to report or seize neglected animals.

Being surrounded by animals in need of loving homes and some TLC, Val admits she can find it difficult not to take more of the unclaimed dogs home.

She already has two, Shadow, a five-year-old German Shepherd, who she found tied up in a park in Southend, abandoned, when she was just six months old.

Her other dog is Scooby, a Jack Russell cross, who had been abandoned on the seafront last summer.

He was a bit aggressive and difficult to rehome, so Val took him in. Often they go out in the van with her as she works.

Val, who breeds sheep, was a veterinary nurse for ten years then worked in boarding kennels before joining the council as animal warden in 2002.

She said: "I love working with animals and like to make it a better life for dogs.

"I'd like to see it more difficult for people to get a dog. People need to have time and energy to commit to a dog.

"An animal is like a child it needs care, attention and guidance. A dog should be for life."

To report a stray dog call 01702 215000.