Written question asked by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 December 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 January 2012. It was answered by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Animals: Euthanasia

Question: 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.

Answer

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:

In comparison, a total of 12 horses were euthanased in 2009, for the following reasons:

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 88312; 538 c725-6W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Animals: Euthanasia
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Animals Euthanasia
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk