Endangered Dogs Defence and Rescue-Welfare of Seized Dogs

Information, Education & Advice - helping dogs in need

Welfare of Seized Dogs - RSPCA Response & Kennel Owner Prosecuted:

Fifteen dogs seized by Merseyside Police and held under the Dangerous Dogs Act were kept in sub-standard kennel conditions at Hilltop Boarding Kennels in Mossley during March 2007.

Kennel owner Stuart Millington pleaded guilty and admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the fifteen dogs between the 10th and 24th of March last year when the dogs were placed at his boarding kennels by the Merseyside Police.

A report in the Manchester Evening News described how Tameside Magistrates Court were told “an investigation showed their kennels were cold and wet with rough concrete floors, no food or water and little evidence of bedding”.

The dogs were said to have been found in ‘extremely poor bodily condition’, some dogs had wounds, damage to their tails and had to have their tails amputated.

The RSPCA brought a prosecution to court after the owner of one of the seized dogs complained about the poor condition of his pet and went to his vet for advice. Kennel owner Stuart Millington was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,668, he was not banned from owning or boarding animals.

Dogs thought to be prohibited pit bull types and in contravention of Section One can be seized and incarcerated pending legal hearings to determine their fate. Over the past year the number of seized dogs held in police appointed kennels has risen sharply, especially in the areas of Merseyside.
and London. As an example, we understand that there are currently 80-120 dogs held in various kennel establishments appointed by Merseyside Police alone.

In many cases, it can often take months before hearings come to court and owners are not afforded any visitation rights as the kennel locations are usually kept secret.

Over the past year there has been an increasing number of cases where dogs have been seized from their homes, held at kennels and then later released to their owners via Court order following registration onto the Index of Exempted Dogs. Some of these dogs have been returned to their owners traumatised and suffering due to physical and psychological damage.

Physical damage noted includes; broken teeth, pressure sores, extreme weight loss, tail damage, self mutilation to the extremities, skin complaints and untreated wounds.
Dogs have died whilst held in police custody, due to preventable infection from the deadly disease parvo virus. Several dogs have had their tails amputated due to damage occurring whilst in kennels.

If a dog is seized and held with minimal opportunities for exercise and daily human and/or canine contact, we believe the effects of isolation on the dog’s behaviour can be devastating. The seizure and detention of family pets can create problems with the dog’s socialisation; one example would be where a dog is returned following months of isolation and then has problems re-integrating with the dog(s) he previously lived happily alongside within the home.

Impounded dogs often arrive in kennels with no health history collected from their owners and when they return home there is often no health information or medical records forwarded to their owners.

EDDR wrote to the RSPCA Prosecutions department earlier this year to voice our concerns over the treatment and standard of care received by seized dogs.

RSPCA Chief Executive Mark Watts replied that they do believe that dogs seized and held pending legal hearings should be cared for according to the standards defined under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2006.

We asked who exactly would be responsible for the welfare of a seized dog? The RSPCA stated that:

“The Animal Welfare Act 2006 specifies that it is the duty of a person responsible for an animal to take reasonable steps to ensure that an animals needs are met. Although interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts the RSPCA’s view is that the kennels housing seized dogs are responsible for ensuring the welfare of the animals they house.”

We asked whether the R.S.P.C.A currently monitors the conditions that seized dogs are kept it and if not, would they be willing and able to inspect the kennels where seized dogs are kept to determine if each dog is being carded for to the standards as defined in the AWA 2006.

The RSPCA replied that "they unfortunately do not have sufficient resources to monitor all establishments in which animals are boarded, whether in the circumstances to which we refer, or otherwise" and also that boarding establishments for animals are subject to inspection and licensing by the relevant local authority - recommending that if there is a complaint about the standards employed by any kennel a complaint also be made to the licensing authority. (Which is often not straight forward as most owners do not know which kennel has/had their dog as kennel locations are not generally revealed.)

If the RSPCA receives a complaint they have said that the complaint will be investigated and owners are advised to ensure that complaints are "made promptly or an investigation may be compromised".

The Chief Executive also stated that "he does appreciate the concern we have expressed" and the RSPCA will be meeting with a representative of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) and will "table this issue for debate" at that meeting.

If you are concerned about the condition your dog has been returned in or currently have a dog in custody, please contact EDDR for further advice.