More than half a million spent on caring for dogs in court cases

Dogs that are seized by police or other agencies may be made subject to destruction orders by sheriffs. This decision is usually made at the end of court proceedings and until then the animals are held in kennels.

The fees amounted to almost £130,000 in 2020-21 but had risen by nearly 50 per cent the following year to more than £191,000. The 2021-22 financial year saw a slight drop in the figure to £185,000.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) may prioritise cases involving kennelled dogs in order to reduce costs.

Prosecutors bear the costs from the point at which they decide to take action until any case concludes.

A spokesperson for COPFS said: “We are mindful of the use of public funds in cases where an animal has been retained and have measures in place to prioritise the preparation of these cases.

“We work closely with Police Scotland, the Scottish SPCA and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to ensure these cases progress as efficiently as possible.”