§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle, sheep or other animals were killed or seriously injured by stray dogs worrying them in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the estimated cost of the damage.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonRecords of the numbers of farm animals killed or injured by dogs in Great Britain have not been collected centrally since 1978 because collection was considered to be an undue burden on the local constabularies, who were responsible for gathering the data. The statistics for 1978 based on police returns to local authorities, were as follows:
Species Killed Injured Sheep 3,951 2,805 Poultry 1,760 245 Cattle 11 78 Pigs 12 8 Goats 2 7 Domestic rabbits 1 — Horses/ponies 1 1 TOTAL 5,738 3,144 These figures exclude West Yorkshire, where returns were discontinued earlier.
There is no estimate available of the cost of the damage resulting from these attacks.