Small boat migrant's DOG looked after for four months costing YOU thousands in latest borders fiasco
BARKING MAD Small boat migrant's DOG looked after for four months costing YOU thousands in latest borders fiasco
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TAXPAYERS are to fork out thousands of pounds to put up a DOG that crossed the Channel in a packed dinghy.
The German Shepherd made the perilous trip with its illegal immigrant owner. The fiasco is believed to be the first time a canine has been picked up in this way.
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Taxpayers are to fork out thousands of pounds to put up a DOG that crossed the Channel in a packed dinghy
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The dog's owner is believed to be staying in a hotel for asylum seekers
Credit: AFP
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Kent's only quarantine facility, The Animal Inn in Deal, is five miles from Dover
Credit: Gary Stone
The German Shepherd was taken ashore to spend at least four months in quarantine at taxpayers' expense.
Discussions were under way about adopting the hound — whose breed is easily trained — as an official Border Force dog.
But there was also anger at what was seen as the latest border fiasco.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: 'This country's open borders policy is so porous even household pets are arriving.'
The dog was among 1,183 human arrivals on 20 dinghies since Saturday last week.
Thousands of pounds are now likely to be spent on the pet to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as rabies.
Meanwhile, its owner is believed to be staying in a hotel for asylum seekers — also courtesy of the British taxpayer.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip said: 'Labour have lost control of our borders.
'Their pledge to smash the gangs lies in tatters.
'Since taking office, we have seen nearly 36,000 illegal arrivals and now even dogs are making the crossing.
The Sun watches as hundreds of illegal migrants arrive at Dover
'The cost of quarantining this dog will run into thousands, all paid for by the British taxpayer.
'It is barking mad.'
In what is believed to be a first for Border Force, officials discovered the German Shepherd last week near the end of its perilous 21-mile trip at Dover, Kent.
A source said: 'Search and rescue teams are always prepared for the worst, often helping newborn babies, and elderly pensioners requiring wheelchairs.
'But they were astounded after finding a pet dog nestled among a group of migrants packed into an unsuitable inflatable in the Dover Strait.
'It was a first.
'Border Force officials couldn't believe their eyes but treated the animal with the same humanity they show any individual.
'The dog will now need to spend up to 120 days in quarantine.
'It's unbelievable.
'No one truly knows where this animal has come from or its back story so every precaution has to be taken to protect the public.
'Vets will need to give it a full check-up with jabs and vaccinations to ensure it poses no risk before it can be allowed out of isolation.
'Asylum applications can take years so the pet may need months of further care in kennels until its owner is processed.'
This country's open borders policy is so porous even household pets are arriving
Richard Tice
The dog is understood to have been taken to one of six Government-approved quarantine sites across the UK.
Kent's only facility is The Animal Inn in Deal, five miles from Dover.
Dogs were heard barking there yesterday but a worker did not think the cross-Channel canine was among them.
Its arrival coincided with the PM's immigration White Paper to 'take back control' of UK borders.
A Government spokesman said: 'The UK takes biosecurity very seriously.
'Where an animal comes from an unlisted country, it is placed in quarantine to prevent dangerous diseases like rabies coming into the country.
'We all want to see the end to dangerous boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk.'
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