Dogs on Motor-cars

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 88, 8 January 1935, Page 11

Dogs on Motor-cars

Sir, —I read with interest Mr. Hall’s letter with reference to those drivers who take their dogs joy-riding on the running boards of their cars, but. an even crueller person is the one who injures a dog and leaves it to die on the side of the road. In England the Road Traffic Act makes it an offence for a driver who has injured a dog to fail to report the occurrence to the nearest police station, as soon as practicable, and in any ease within 24 hours of the accident. I think that it is high time that such a regulation were made in this country, and hope that the 'JuilWaggers’ Club will make representations to local members of Parliament to get an amendment made to the appropriate Act of Parliament. —I am, etc., PHILOKUON. Wellington, Jaliuary 5.

Sir, —I would like to. support D. Hall's protest against the careless way in which many motorists carry dogs. Dogs on, or in, cars or lorries should be secured so that they cannot fall or jump off. Some years ago, in thick, fast traffic, a dog jumped out of a car and ran under the front wheel of my bicycle. The motorist was rather peevish at having to pay for a new rim and spokes. I wrote to one or two automobile associations about it, and received civil acknowledgments. I wrote to an M.P., who sent me a note from a Minister saying it would hardly do to prohibit motorists carrying dogs (which I had never suggested). It is not only dogs on running boards that can jump out unexpectedly. We are waiting for someone to be killed, then we will make a law about it, in the good old British way.—l am, etc., It. 11. FITZ-HERBERT. Havelock North, January 5.