Animals: Euthanasia
Defence
Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) horses and (b) dogs have been euthanised by his Department in 2011; and for what reasons in each case.
Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)
A total of 90 military working dogs were euthanased in 2011, for the following reasons:
| Number | |
| Old age or behavioural conditions | 35 |
| Musculoskeletal conditions | 19 |
| Neurological conditions | 13 |
| Cancer | 11 |
| Undiagnosed | 6 |
| Gastroenterological conditions | 3 |
| Trauma | 2 |
| Cardiovascular conditions | 1 |
| Respiratory conditions | 0 |
| Integumentary conditions | 0 |
| Aural conditions | 0 |
| Haemolymphatic conditions | 0 |
| Renal conditions | 0 |
| Reproductive conditions | 0 |
In comparison, a total of 125 military working dogs were euthanased in 2009, for the following reasons:
| Number | |
| Old age or behavioural conditions | 66 |
| Musculoskeletal conditions | 23 |
| Neurological conditions | 6 |
| Cancer | 4 |
| Undiagnosed | 7 |
| Gastroenterological conditions | 7 |
| Trauma | 0 |
| Cardiovascular conditions | 2 |
| Respiratory conditions | 2 |
| Integumentary conditions | 3 |
| Aural conditions | 1 |
| Haemolymphatic conditions | 3 |
| Renal conditions | 1 |
| Reproductive conditions | 0 |
A total of 28 horses were euthanased in 2011, for the following reasons:
| Number | |
| Lameness | 10 |
| Colic | 7 |
| Temperament | 4 |
| Injury | 3 |
| Neurological | 3 |
| Malignancy | 1 |
In comparison, a total of 12 horses were euthanased in 2009, for the following reasons:
| Number | |
| Lameness | 8 |
| Temperament | 3 |
| Injury | 1 |