Sheep Worrying. 



213 



report upon the working of the Laws relating to Dogs, [C. 8320], with regard 

 especially to the seizure of stray dogs and the collection of the dog licence duties. 



The Committee point out in their Report that the returns of the number of 

 unclaimed dogs destroyed in districts where muzzling orders have been in force, or 

 where the police have rigorously carried out their general powers of seizing stray dogs, 

 "prove beyond doubt that the number of dogs, more especially in centres of 

 population, has been allowed to become excessive, with the natural result that very 

 many of them become stray or uncared for, and virtually ownerless dogs." 



The finding of the Committee in this matter is fully corroborated by the 

 experience of the Police Authorities in the large urban districts in recent years. In 

 the Metropolitan Police District, the number of dogs seized during the past three 

 years has been as follows : — 



1895 - - - - - 34,147 



1896 62,462 



1897 - - - - - - 45,756 



[42,365 



in 



In Liverpool, the number seized during the same period has been 9,459 ; 

 Manchester and Salford, 10,678 ; in Nottingham, 6,072 ; in the County of 

 Lancaster, 10,626 ; in Birmingham (1896 and 1897), 6,880 ; in Leeds, 7,365 ; and 

 in Glasgow, 5,374. 



It is evident from these figures that, apart from any question as to the annoyance 

 and even danger which is attendant upon a large vagrant dog population, very great 

 cruelty and suffering is occasioned where dogs are either cast upon the streets or are 

 allowed, through indifference or neglect, to become homeless, and the Board are 

 satisfied that any steps which can be taken for the prevention of these evils would 

 be not only in the general interest of the public buc would also promote the humane 

 treatment of the animals themselves. 



The Committee observe in their Report that 61 with the extirpation of rabies the 

 necessity of muzzling will, in our opinion, have disappeared, but we consider it 

 expedient that more efficient means than those which exist at present should be 

 devised for the due licensing of dogs and for their subsequent regulation." They 

 further express the opinion that "an effective system of licensing is clearly one of the 

 most powerful checks that the law can impose upon an excessive or ill-regulated 

 increase in the dog population," and they state that they have "received evidence 

 which proves that the payment of dog-licence duties is largely evaded." 



In these conclusions the Board entirely concur, and they would express the hope 

 that your Local Authority will take the matter into their consideration at an early 

 date with the view to the issue of such further instructions to the Police as may be 

 necessary to secure full efficiency in regard to the seizure of stray dogs and the 

 collection of the dog-licence duty. 



I am to add that the Inland Revenue Department have issued instructions to 

 their Collectors to furnish to the Police, on application, at the end of March in each 

 year lists of licensed persons in such a form as to show readily whether a person is- 

 duly licensed or not, supplementary lists being supplied at the end of April, May. 

 June, July, August, and September. As your local authority are aware, the Police 

 possess full powers under Section 23 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1878, 

 to take proceedings against persons for non-compliance with the provisions of 

 that Act. 



The Board believe that by the means above indicated very much could be done 

 to secure that the dog population shall be both well-ordered and well cared lor, a 

 result which it is most important to secure both on sanitary and social grounds. 



I am, etc., 



T. H. Elliott, 



Secretary. 



