4:40pm Friday 30th July 2010
By Emma Cruces
HYNDBURN’S dog warden has been sacked in a row over tendering.
Steve Wood, who is the national dog warden of the year, was dismissed by employers K9 after they found he submitted his own tender for the council’s dog warden contract, currently held by K9.
The firm said it was gross misconduct but Mr Wood said it was a technicality.
His contract had included a ‘competition agreement’ which means that even if his employment ended, he could not work for the firm’s customers for at least 12 months.
Mr Wood, of Rishton, was made warden of the year by the National Dog Warden Association in 2009. Judges said his charity, Hyndburn Stray Dogs In Need, was ‘the best of its kind in the world’.
He said: “I was amazed when I was sacked because I know I did a good job. I admit I didn’t know everything in my contract because I signed it 11 years ago.
“I’d had a lot of encouragment from various people to put in my own tender and I thought I should because being the borough’s dog warden was very important to me.
“I’m concentrating on Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need for now as we have received funding and I still work with the council.”
A statement from K9 said that the firm ‘would like to confirm the dismissal of the dog warden at Hyndburn Borough Council Mr S. Wood, for gross misconduct’.
Leader of Hyndburn Council Peter Britcliffe said the issue was a private matter between K9 and Mr Wood but added: “The council has always been impressed by Steve Wood’s dedication.
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