Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps Police Forces are taking to protect the welfare of dogs seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 given the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the time taken for court cases to be heard and the extended periods of time in kennels.
Every police force must have a good, robust strategy and policy for dealing with dangerous dogs. The policy must include identifying secure kennels that can be contracted by police should it be necessary for a dangerous dog to be seized prior to any prosecution. The welfare of any dog seized is also a factor the police need to consider, and they should note their duty to ensure the welfare of animals under their control (s9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006).
Advice and Guidance for enforcers of the dangerous dog law can be found here- https://ukhomeoffice.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/PROC1170/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?e=IUMGpi&share=EWo-7Fafr4RDvYyYsznCEigBnzGLkpB3Vbm_QH8PTu710Q