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A number of meetings were held during the year with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food, British Airports Authority, R.S.P.C.A.. Airline Operators Committee and Corporation
officers. A site for the new facility is now being considered; plans have been drawn up which
have been accepted by the Ministry and negotiations are continuing. It is hoped that recommendations
may be made to the Port and City of London Health Committee shortly regarding these and
the commencement of work on the new building.
Work carried out under the various Orders concerning imported animals include the following:-
Diseases of Animals Act — Importations
Numerous reports were received from Healthrow Airport concerning dogs and cats arriving
without the necessary licence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Visits were
made and arrangements made for 106 dogs and 45 cats to be placed into quarantine and for two
dogs to be re-exported.
Post mortem examinations were carried out on animals which arrived dead or died at the
airport. These animals comprised eight monkeys, five pangolins, three cranes, three armadillos,
two otters, two kestrels, one panda and one eagle. In all cases the carcases were properly disposed
of and reports were sent to the airlines concerned.
In March, an assistant at the R.S.P.C.A. Hostel was bitten by a dog which was in transit.
A further case occurred in May when an employee of British European Airways was bitten by a
dog. Both animals were allowed to continue their journeys and reports received later showed
that they had remained healthy. The persons bitten received medical attention and the Medical
Officer of Health, Hillingdon, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were informed.
Eighty-one polo ponies were imported in March at King George V Dock from South America.
The cleansing and disinfection of the vessel and disposal of litter, bedding, etc., were supervised.
Importation of Dogs and Cats Orders 1928 to 1970
It was necessary to address several letters to airlines and to the Airline Operators Committee
concerning infringements of the above Orders. These infringements varied considerably and
concerned such things as inadequate crating of animals, carriage of animals in unsuitable and
unlocked vehicles and allowing persons to carry animals from aircraft to the airport buildings. At
the present time your Veterinary Officer and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are
engaged in meetings with the airlines which it is hoped will achieve better carrying arrangements
at the airport.
Other cases which occurred concerning imported animals were:
January — Information was received that a dog had escaped from a vessel at Ipswich. The vessel
had since come to London and equiries were made. A report and statement were sent to the
Ministry.
July — Enquiries were carried out concerning the alleged illegal importation of a cat at Harwich.
A full report was sent to the Ministry.
July - Investigations were made following the receipt of two letters alleging that a dog had been
illegally imported at Dover. Reports and statements were forwarded to Dover.
July - A Chihuahua dog was illegally imported at Heathrow and taken to an hotel in London. The
dog was placed into quarantine and then re-exported.
October - A dog was illegally imported at Southampton. Many enquiries were made in the London
area in an attempt to trace it.
November - A kitten was illegally imported at Doverin a furniture van and was brought to London.
The kitten was placed into quarantine and a report sent to Dover.
November — Enquiries were carried out concerning the alleged smuggling of a Dalmation dog.
Reports were sent to the Ministry.
Three other cases occurred during the year. In January, a cautionary letter was sent to the
owner of a Chow-chow dog which had been illegally imported at Heathrow the previous November.
In October, a person attempted to smuggle a dog into the country at Heathrow Airport. The dog
was discovered and placed into quarantine. Proceedings were instituted and the person was fined
£75 with £15 costs. One further case concerned a cat which was illegally imported at Gatwick
Airport, and brought to London. Enquiries were carried out and statements and reports sent to
Surrey County Council. Proceedings were instituted and the owner was fined £10 with £2 costs.
Rabies (Importation of Mammals) Order, 1971
In February, following information from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
enquiries were made concerning the illegal landing of a marmoset at South Shields. The animal
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