§ Sir FRANCIS CHANN1NGasked the Home Secretary what number of stray dogs have been seized by the Metropolitan Police within the metropolitan area under Section 3 of The Dogs Act, 1906, in each of the years 1907, 1908, and 1909; how many of such dogs when seized wore collars with names and addresses of owners; how many wore collars but without names and addresses of owners, and how many wore no collars; whether any record is kept as to the number of instances under Sub-section (2) of Section 3 of The Dogs Act, 1906, in which the owners have been notified of the seizure of dogs; whether dogs wearing collars with addresses, if found a second time in the streets by the police, are seized and dealt with by the police without giving notice to the owners; and whether it is an offence under the Acts and regulations if a police constable receives any payment or consideration from any person, or home, or institution for bringing them dogs seized under the Act?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe number of stray dogs seized by the Metropolitan police under Section 3 of the Dogs Act, 1906, was in—
1907 … … 44,434 1908 … … 41,114 1909 … … 40,285 In all cases in which a dog when found has a collar bearing a name and address, notification is at once sent there, but it is not possible to analyse the 125,833 cases to determine which of them wore or did 2065W not wear collars. Dogs are never conveyed by Metropolitan police officers to Homes, so no question of payment by institutions can arise, but under regulations made by the Secretary of State an official fee of 1s. is chargeable for any stray dog returned by the police to its owner. When this fee is levied a formal receipt is given, and the money, of course, goes to the Police Fund.