Scotland Yard has been urged to destroy thousands of dangerous dogs rather than paying more than £10m to care for them. The Metropolitan Police (Met) plans to outsource kennelling and care of dangerous dogs, which could cost up to £10m over four years. Lord Harris, former Metropolitan Police Authority chairman, asked: "Why don't we just put them down?" A record 1,146 dogs, including pit-bull terriers, were seized in London in 2009. Police currently have 451 dogs. Each dog can cost the force up to £9,000, while owners fight lengthy court cases trying to prevent destruction. 'Enormous sum' Lord Harris said the public would be shocked by the cost. "We seem to be spending an enormous sum of money on keeping weapons for other people. Why do we keep on doing that?" he asked. The number of dogs held by the police often surges after high profile incidents, such as when children are attacked. Police said they could complete the paperwork needed to destroy a dog within 72 hours, but court cases can take years to conclude. Supt Julia Pendry, who is responsible for the Met's status dogs unit, said the force must operate within the law. "It would be absolutely fantastic if we could destroy these dogs," she said. "Unfortunately it is a criminal offence because the property belongs to other people. "Secondly, the RSPCA would probably prosecute me, and people like Defra and the national press would have a field day if we started killing dogs that were people's pets," she added. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8681520.stm
says it all really, they will quite happily keep scum of earth prisoners in there heated cells with sky tv and thats not a drain on resources, but dogs who probably 80% have never even harmed anyone or anything get a cold kennel floor, no socialisation and then a needle. just sums it up really - priorities are all wrong.
Why not destroy the owners that have failed to restrain, socialize, and train their dogs to where they aren't a danger to others? Also take the children away from parents that fail to supervise them around dogs. Spay/neuter the parents to prevent repeat cases.
im sure some of the owners have done the above. many of the dogs will have been seized for looking a not so certain way
Whats the difference between the police euthanizing these dogs, and the thousands of dogs beign euthanized daily by rescues all across the Country!!!:?
Good point. It sickens me to know so many dogs are dieing. I think a big part of the problem is failing to sort out problem dogs due to their breeding and training from the ones of the same breed. Just as good breeders breed for good temperament, bad ones can breed for bad temperament. The problem is that with BSL, I am afraid you can have a well bred, well trained, wanted dog being destroyed just becaus of its breed. The shelter dogs, being slaughtered good, bad, or otherwise, don't have homes.
Short debate on BBC 4 Today show this morning with Alison Green from DDAWatch and Lord Harris http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8682000/8682030.stm
Liverbird, the ethics of that situation reminds me of all the major "non-profit" organizations here in the U.S. I really hate politics and bringing up frustrating topics, but I have been trying to spread awareness about various multi-billion dollar non profit corporations such as HSUS, PETA, and the ASPCA that do not use donations for the welfare of animals as their commercials and campaigns advertise. Recent laws passed by the USDA have forced small rescues and foster homes to reduce the number of pets they are legally able to rescue or forcing them to turn their homes into government inspected commercial facilities. The initiation of new USDA laws REDUCES the number of pets being helped by small rescue type organizations, and instead gives more power and "stock" for major organizations to commercialize and monopolize "unwanted" pets. Even though these major organizations call themselves non-profits, their tax records say otherwise, paying six figure salaries to top executives, pumping a majority of donations back into fundraising, and putting next to nothing towards the actual care of pets in their facilities or affiliated facilities, euthanasia being their primary pet-related cost, which allows them to maximize their profits.
