STRAY DOGS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 137, 27 February 1918, Page 9

STRAY DOGS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l wish to dratv attention to .what I consider a case of gross injustice, whereby a Magistrate tho other day, made a man pay £9 for a dog he had destroyed for fowls. !All I can say is that--it is a pity the Magistrate in question has not got to make his living, either as a poultryman or farmer, and then, perhaps,, he would have more consideration for."those toho are at theniercy of tevery:,mongrel roaming the countryside. A case came under my own notice not'so long. 'Ago where a sheep had a largo hole torn in its side through dog-worrying, and of course, by the .time the animals are (found the dogs are gone. What does [the Magistrate recommend, may I ask? 'A man finds a dog worrying and killing hie fowls, and after giving duo notice to the owner lie shoots him. For this he gets fined £9, so the conclusion one comes to is this, that the fowl owner should have meekly said: "Please will you tie' your dog up, and ask him not to worry my fowls, etc." If I were the man who had shot the dog I would riot pay the fine without going further into | the matter, and I am sure the community will stand behind him. Which, may I as, is worth the most, fowls or dogs ? I think it is time that the City Council engaged someone to go about and shoot all tho mongrels running loose, half of their owners pay no dog taxes, they are under no control, and prowl iabout day and night.—l am, etc., JUSTICE.