Dogs Seized

1. In relation to the 2009 calendar year can you please state how many dogs your force has seized under the powers of the Dangerous Dogs Act? If possible please provide a breakdown of the breeds/types of dogs that have been seized. Also please state how many of the dogs seized in 2009 have been (a) destroyed, (b) returned to their owners or (c) still confiscated but their future has not been determined.
2. Could you provide answers to all the above questions but in relation to dogs seized in 2008?
3. What is the longest period of time that a dog has been housed by the police while a decision over its future has been conducted? What was the name and breed of the dog? When and where was it seized? How long was it housed by the police and when this came to an end was it returned to its owner or destroyed? What did the bill for its accommodation and associated expenses (food etc) come to?

In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is provided below;

• 20 dogs were seized all pit bull types apart from 1 which is an American bulldog
• 11 dogs destroyed
• 2 dogs returned to owners
• 6 awaiting court
• 1 died in kennels
• Figures for 2008 do not exist as records were not retained.
• The longest a dog has been retained by Cheshire Police is 185 days and this dog is still with us.
• The total cost for this dogs kennelling is £2144.50 incl VAT (15% to end of December and 17.5% as of January)
• The cost in total being £512.00 for all treatment.
• The total for this dog then so far has been £2656.50.