SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 6, 2 October 1907, Page 6

SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

The Committee of the Societv for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals met yesterday afternoon, ther being present:—Mr. J. lllot (chairman), Mrs. Ivoi-not, Mrs. H. M; Christie, Mrs. Eng. laud, Messrs. Ward and. Jameson. A letter was received from. Mr. J. E. Cockcroft, M.R.C.Y.S., ■of Levin, co c demning the senseless practice of "docking" the tails of horses. There was nothing, to justify the nractice.- even duly qualified men; in many cases, howwhen the operation was performed bv .ever, .the. work was clumsily done, and much-suffering was. caused to the unfortunate .victims oi-'a' cruel fashion. He wished to know if the' Society wou.Ul take action in the matter.' The Society's Inspector said that Mr. Cockcroft's principal'grievance was that the operation was far too'frequently left iin the hands of unskilful persons, although he agreed with the writer that the practice should be condemned right 'out. The chairman observed that the Society must look to the legal aspect of the question. Was there any law through which these cases might. be reached? He suggested that the Society's solicitor should he' consulted, and that, the matter might also be brought under the notice of the Department of Agriculture. The Inspectpr was instructed to act in accordance with the chairman's suggestion.. Mr.. W. Rogers, of Kilbirnie, wrote protesting against the treatment which a dog, consigned to'him'from Auckland, had. suffered at the hands of the Rail-' way Department. The dog was shipped from Auckland on Sunday, entrained at Now Plymouth on Monday, and-did not reach Wellington until Thursday, when, the animal presented a pitiable spectacle:' It had evidently been without food most of the time. He alleged that tho Railway Department would give him no satisfaction as to - his ground of complaint. It was decided that: the Inspector should get further particulars from the owner of tho dog. and ask tho Railway. Department for an explanation. . . • The Inspector's report showed that during the past - fortnight he had dealt ,with several- cases of neglect and maltreatment of horses;, some he had sent to the "vet," others were taken off tho road for a rest, while one had been pensioned off. There were two or threo cases of .faulty shoeing, in which serious' suffering liad been caused; the horses in every case being rested. The report was adopted.