asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people in Northern Ireland have been successfully prosecuted in the past three years for cruelty to (a) dogs, and (b) cats. [HL1846]
The information is not available in the format requested as cruelty to dogs or cats do not constitute separate offences by legislation. Instead, it is only possible to determine from the court datasets the number of successful prosecutions for cruelty to animals. Tables 1 to 3 give the total number prosecuted and subsequently convicted for such offences for the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest years for which data are available).
Data are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
Prosecuted Convicted Owner permitting cruelty to animal 2 2 Cruelty to animals 9 8 Permitting cruelty to animals 0 0 Causing unnecessary suffering to animals 9 8 Abandoning animal 0 0 Unlawful animal fighting 0 0 Owner of animals failing to exercise care and supervision 1 1 Custody of animal whilst disqualified 0 0 Total 21 19
Prosecuted Convicted Owner permitting cruelty to animal 0 0 Cruelty to animals 12 9 Permitting cruelty to animals 2 2 Causing unnecessary suffering to animals 10 9 Abandoning animal 3 2 Unlawful animal fighting 1 1 Owner of animals failing to exercise care and supervision 0 0 Custody of animal whilst disqualified 1 1 Total 29 24
Prosecuted Convicted Owner permitting cruelty to animal 1 1 Cruelty to animals 10 9 Permitting cruelty to animals 0 0 Causing unnecessary suffering to animals 3 2 Abandoning animal 1 1 Unlawful animal fighting 0 0 Owner of animals failing to exercise care and supervision 0 0 Custody of animal whilst disqualified 0 0 Total 15 13 1. Data for 2006 are provisional.