Data on dogs who are out of control from January 2018 to May 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030606

I note you seek access to the following information:

Please provide monthly and annual totals from 2018 up until the most current date available at the point of production for the following:

• The number of times the offences of an out-of-control dog causing injury has been recorded
• The total number of dogs seized each year
• The number, seized each year of:
a) suspected banned breeds,
b) suspected American Bully or ‘XL bully’ breed
• The number of dogs seized, split by weight
• The number of dogs destroyed each year.
• The number of dogs destroyed each year, with a breakdown, if available of suspected banned breeds and suspected American bully breeds

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

• The number of times the offences of an out-of-control dog causing injury has been recorded
• The total number of dogs seized each year
• The number, seized each year of:
a) suspected banned breeds,
b) suspected American Bully or ‘XL bully’ breed
• The number of dogs seized, split by weight

	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	To 25/05/2023
S3 offences (aggravated) recorded	1478	1662	1885	2248	2750	1271
S3 offences (non agg) recorded	493	561	570	558	603	252
Animal welfare offences recorded	19	17	16	27	24	7
Illegal breed possession offences seized and recorded	48	54	41	27	23	14
Dog seizures by MPS general	898	806	857	879	1159	521

• The number of dogs destroyed each year.
• The number of dogs destroyed each year, with a breakdown, if available of suspected banned breeds and suspected American bully breeds

2018/19 –
Put to sleep including voluntary disclaimers: 216

2019/20 –
Put to sleep including voluntary disclaimers: 148

2020/21 –
Put to sleep including voluntary disclaimers: 119

2021/22 –
Put to sleep including voluntary disclaimers: 132

2022/23 –
Put to sleep including voluntary disclaimers: 229

Weights and XL bully breed question cannot be gleaned from the data. The MPS response for this question is no Information Located.