§ Major GLYNasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that annoyance and vexation is caused to officers and men serving overseas as the result of an apparent lack of co-operation between the War Office and the Board of Agriculture in enabling dogs, the property of officers and men, being taken charge of at the ports of embarkation and disembarkation under military arrangements; whether he will consider the immediate possibility of converting suitable accommodation at the base ports in France and elsewhere in order that dogs may be placed in quarantine under arrangements satisfactory to the requirements of the Board of Agriculture; and whether he will consult with the Board of Agriculture, and such organisations as the Blue Cross Fund and the Dumb Friends' League, without delay in order to arrive at a definite scheme, the details of which may be published in Army Orders and in the Press?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOwing to the importation of rabies into this country through dogs brought from France it became necessary to forbid officers and men to bring back their dogs with them. To allow dogs to be brought home, the Army Council accepted the generous offer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to defray the cost of maintenance, for the six months' quarantine required by the Importation of Dogs Order, 1914, of 500 dogs at a time at the quarantine station at Hackbridge, which has been approved by the Board of Agriculture. Under the arrangements which have been made, the dogs are collected in batches in France and, when passed free 1089W from symptoms of contagious disease by an officer of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, are sent by special arrangements to Hackbridge. During March over 100 dogs have arrived at the kennels at Hack-bridge. Dogs may also be brought over direct by private arrangements between the owner and the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, but this, of course, entails expense to the owner.