Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) horses and (b) dogs were euthanised by his Department in each month in 2013 and 2014; and what the reasons were in each such case.

Decisions to euthanise any animal in military service are only taken by a veterinarian officer after all possible treatment avenues have been exhausted and where it is considered to be the most humane option for the animal. The only other scenario where an animal would be euthanised is where it is considered to pose a risk to public safety.

The numbers of horses and dogs euthanised by the Department in each month during 2013 and until 31 October 2014 with reasons are provided in the attached tables.