Call to destroy dangerous dogs to save money

[Debbie]

Call to destroy dangerous dogs to save money
(UKPA) – 5 hours ago

Scotland Yard was urged to destroy thousands of dangerous dogs instead of forking out more than £10 million to pay for their upkeep.

Police tackling a surge in illegal and violent animals want to outsource their transport, kennelling and care to the private sector.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) were told the contract could be worth up to £10.6 million over four years.

A record 1,146 dogs, many of which are pitbull terriers and other banned breeds, were seized last year and the force is struggling to meet the cost.

Each animal can accrue a bill of up to £9,000 as court cases and legal appeals drag on for up to two years. The average stay in kennels is around 70 days.

Lord Toby Harris, a former chairman of the MPA, responded angrily to the cost of the contract and said the public would be shocked.

He said: "We seem to be spending an enormous sum of money on keeping weapons for other people. Why do we keep on doing that? Why don't we kill them when they are seized? What would the cost of that be?"

The Labour peer suggested that CO19 officers could shoot some animals if necessary, as they do when out-of-control dogs pose an immediate danger.

Police said they can complete the paperwork needed to destroy a dog within 72 hours but court cases can take years to conclude.

There are 451 dogs held in police kennels and numbers often surge after high profile incidents, such as when children are attacked.

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[Lyle]

yes they have to save money for the freeloading royals