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Sheep, Sussex (Attacks By Dogs)

Volume 483: debated on Thursday 1 February 1951

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57.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that loss to farmers and cruelty to animals have been caused by attacks upon sheep by dogs in Sussex recently; and if he will introduce legislation increasing the penalties upon owners of dogs who do not keep them under control, together with the conference of power upon the police to seize dogs that a court has ordered to be destroyed.

In most districts, it is an offence for a dog not to be kept under control during the hours of darkness. The maximum penalty for contravention of this provision is that specified in the Diseases of Animals Act, namely, £50, with the alternative of imprisonment in certain circumstances. In addition, under the Dogs Acts a court may order a dangerous dog to be kept under proper control or destroyed, and the penalty for failure to comply with such an order is £1 a day. These penalties do not seem to me to be inadequate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that farming opinion in Sussex, and in the South of England generally, is deeply concerned not merely at the cruelty caused but at the loss of valuable meat and wool? Is he further aware that all representations made by various farming institutions in Sussex to various societies that purport to protect the interests of animals have failed to interest those societies in this matter? It is a very serious thing.

I am greatly concerned at the number of sheep destroyed annually by dogs, but I am equally satisfied that merely to increase penalties would not achieve the result required.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration opinion other than farming opinion and not allow himself to be stampeded into any undesirable action?

Is the Minister aware that this does not merely apply to Sussex, but is of general application to England and Scotland?