It is too early to say which category the two dogs taken from the flat in Bethnal Green will fall into. Like every other dog that is seized, they will be taken to one of 12 dog pounds used by the Met (their locations are a closely guarded secret to prevent unwelcome visits from owners). This is only the beginning of a process that lasts an average of six months before a dog's fate is decided. As the dogs found during Operation Canis arrive at the kennels, McParland and his team assess each one to decide whether the animal can be classed as a 'pit bull type' dog (or another banned breed), depending on physical characteristics such as the shape of the head. The officers must then write a report for the Crown Prosecution Service and, in the case of a not guilty plea by the owner, appear in court to give evidence when magistrates decide whether the dog should be destroyed. Each dog will take up an average of three days of an officer's time, from the moment he applies for a warrant to the eventual disposal of the case by a court. The Met currently has 471 dogs in its kennels awaiting their day in court. Next year's budget for kennelling dangerous dogs is £2.85 million in London alone.