MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the reasons which caused the police authorities of Newcastle to order the destruction and burning of the champion Newfoundland dog, Black Watch II., which, on the 7th June, had strayed from its owner's house in Newcastle to Jesmond Vale, and was there found by a police officer; whether the destruction of the dog was due to any suggestion that it was suffering from rabies; whether the dog was destroyed and burnt on the day it was brought in by the police without any attempt being made to isolate; it during a few days, in order to ascertain whether it was in any way diseased or dangerous; whether any attempt was made to communicate with the owner of the dog before destroying and burning it; and whether he will give directions that will prevent the recurrence of such proceedings?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTI am informed that the dog was found in a very neglected and exhausted condition and in great pain from rheumatism, and that it was destroyed the same day after consultation with a veterinary surgeon, who examined the dog and advised that it should be put out of its suffering. There was no appearance of rabies. The matter is not one in which I can interfere or which calls for any directions from me.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs it the general rule of the police to destroy and burn every rheumatic dog they set their eyes upon, or was this a special case?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe information I have is that the owner of the dog was unknown, and that the animal was in an exceedingly bad condition. Hence it was ordered to be destroyed. I know no more about it.