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A number of animals were found to be dead on arrival at the airport and post mortem examinations
were carried out on 3 hyaenas, an African baboon. Leopard cat, pug dog, chimpanzee
and a consignment of penguins. Reports were submitted to the airlines concerned.
From time to time enquiries were received from the Ministry of Agriculture, Metropolitan
and County Police Forces requesting the tracing of animals that had illegally entered the country
through other ports or had escaped whilst in transhipment. Your office co-operated with the
Authorities concerned in these enquiries at all times. In two instances assistants at the R.S.PXtA.
Hostel at Heathrow received scratches and abrasions whilst handling cats in transhipment. In
each case, as a precautionary measure, reports were received from the Veterinary Services of the
importing countries to ensure that the animals remained healthy for the usual 10 day period.
Importation of Dogs & Cats Order 1928
Several instances occurred of offences against the terms of the asove Order, resulting in
prosecution in one case and letters of caution in four others.
In March proceedings were instituted against Mr. Samuel Brody, agent for Miss Jayne Mansfield,
for landing two chihuahua dogs, the property of the film actress, at London Airport in contravention
of Article I of this Order. He was fined £25 on each of the summonses and ordered to pay 20
guineas costs.
In April a dog was reported running loose alongside the Motor Vessel "Catherina W", moored
off Brentford Dock. It was soon returned to the vessel and it was considered expedient in this
case to address a letter of caution to the Master. Later the same month a similar instance occurred
of a dog escaping ashore from the Motor Vessel "Margaret Catherina", berthed at the Surrey
Commercial Docks, and was dealt with by a cautionary letter to the Master of the vessel.
A further case concerned two German seamen from the Motor Vessel "Uhenfels", berthed
at Tate and Lyle's Refinery Wharf, Silvertown, who had taken a dog ashore. Enquiries revealed
that it had left the boat without the Captain's knowledge, was only ashore for a short time and
was accompanied by the two members of the crew. Warning letters to the Captain and seamen
concerned were considered appropriate in view of the circumstances.
Information was received from the Kent County Constabulary at Sevenoaks to the effect
that a passenger from East Africa had reported landing at London Airport with two griffon dogs
as a present for friends, being unaware that they should have been declared before leaving Heathrow.
hi view of the circumstances and the fact that the dogs were placed in quarantine within a
few hours of arrival in this country, a cautionary letter was forwarded in this instance.
Rabies Order 1938
From information received from the Police at Gerald Road Station in March it came to notice
that a chihuahua dog had been illegally landed at London Airport several weeks earlier, the property
of an Italian Countess staying in London. From enquiries made it was impossible to prove
that the dog had been brought into this country and in the circumstances, to ensure temporary
isolation, Form 2 under the above Order was served on the owner ordering the animal to be confined
for 10 days.
Psittacosis or Ornithosis Order 1953
Reports were received in two instances of persons suffering from psittacosis in the Boroughs
of Tower Hamlets and Hammersmith. In each case the person concerned had recently purchased
parrots. The necessary action was taken and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
advised accordingly.
Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967
This Act was passed in May but will not come into operation until a date appointed by the
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Its main provision is that poultry shall be stunned
instantaneously by decapitation or some kind of approved instrument. Although no poultry slaughtering
takes place within the City of London, there are a large number of premises where poultry
are regularly slaughtered in the Borough of Tower Hamlets for whom the Corporation act on an
agency basis.
Foot and Mouth Disease
In view of the epidemic of the above disease which developed in Shropshire in late October
and in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food declared the whole of England and Wales to be a "Controlled" area as from the 18th November,
to be followed a week later by a further Order bringing the whole of Scotland within this
category. The effect of the control is that all cloven hoofed animals could only be moved by
licence issued by the Local Authority into whose area the movement is made, so that in effect
all movements were recorded.
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