§ MR. WEIR (ROSS and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of dogs removed from the streets of the Metropolis last year by the police, and the number restored to their owners through police agency; and will he state the amount realised through the sale of lost, stolen, or strayed dogs which have been sold during the year under an order of the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police.
§ MR. AKERS DOUGLASThe total number of dogs removed from the streets of the Metropolis by the police in the year 1902, under the various provisions in force in the matter, was 26,503. Of 928 these 4,150 were restored to their owners, and the rest, with the exception of 492, which escaped or died, were sent to the Dogs' Home. Nothing was realised for the Police Fund by the sale of lost or strayed dogs. The only cases in which dogs were actually sold by the police—namely, those of seven dogs supposed to be stolen—resulted in a loss, the proceeds not being sufficient to cover the cost of keeping the dogs while required in connection with the charge of theft.