§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of dogs removed by the police from the streets of the Metropolis during the year ending 31st December last, the number taken to the Dogs' Home, Batter-sea, the number restored to the owners by the police, and the number sold by the police; and is it the practice of the police to communicate with the owner when the name and address is given on the dog's collar.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sDuring the year ended on the 31st December 24 last 27,994 dogs were removed by the Metropolitan Police from the streets of the Metropolis. 23,261 of these were taken to the Dogs' Home at Battersea by the police; and the Home subsequently restored 1,092 of them to their owners. 4,181 dogs were restored to their owners by the police. None of the dogs seized were sold by the police. It is the practice of the police to communicate with the owner when his name and address is given on the dog's collar.