§ MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture when the Order for the muzzling of dogs will be extended over the whole country; whether any particular pattern of wire muzzle is obligatory; whether the regulation as to the quarantine of dogs at the ports has yet been issued; and what time must elapse after all the necessary precautions have been enforced before the muzzling Orders can be altogether withdrawn?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER LONG, Liverpool, West Derby)It is not proposed to apply muzzling Orders to the whole country, but only to areas in which rallies undoubtedly exists or to which there is reason to fear that it may have been conveyed. A series of Orders for this purpose will be issued in the course of the next few days. No particular pattern of wire muzzle is compulsory, but, with a view to assist dog owners in the selection of n muzzle, specimens of a muzzle which we believe to be both efficient and humane, will be deposited at the principal police stations in districts to which muzzling Orders are applied. An Order regulating the importation of dogs will be issued almost immediately. It would be premature for me to forecast the time during which it will be necessary for muzzling Orders to be kept in force. Rabies is unfortunately a disease which may he dormant for a considerable period after an animal has been bitten, and much will depend upon the support we receive from local authorities and dog owners generally in our efforts to stamp out the disease in this country.
§ MR. LOUGHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman a question which has been sent to me by a correspondent, arising out of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman? [Laughter.] It is whether a dog must have a muzzle on in taking his morning bath in a pond on Peckham Rye. [Laughter.]
§ * MR. LONGThe correspondent of the hon. Gentleman appears to be possessed of the power of divination. ["Hear!" and laughter.] That being so, I should think that he could have answered his own question. ["Hear!" and laughter.] The question depends upon the place where the dog takes his morning; bath.
§ MR. LOUGHThe right hon. Gentleman is in error. I particularly mentioned Peckham live as the place.
§ * MR. LONGI beg the hon. Gentleman's pardon. I did not hear him mention Peckham Rye. But the hon. Member did not say whether the pond was in public or private grounds.