HC Deb 23 January 2003 vol 398 c436W
Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the obtaining of temporary kennels for stray dogs collected by local authority dog wardens from(a) local police forces and (b) other sources when temporary police kennels are not available. [92589]

Alun Michael

Section 149 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires every local authority to appoint an officer to deal with stray dogs. In addition, under section 3(8) of the Dogs Act 1906, the local authority officer, police, or any other person having charge of a stray dog, are required to feed and maintain a dog until the owner has been given a reasonable opportunity to claim it back. Also, under the Protection of Animals Act it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to a captive or domestic animal. It is therefore for local authorities to decide how they will meet the statutory requirements placed upon them.