CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 517, 20 May 1949, Page 24

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Sir-J. Anderson must be one of those typical New Zealanders who use a dog solely for work, and nothing else, giving him the very minimum of affection. Howeyer, she need have no fear that the people of this country will ever be ‘as English as the English, as I’m afraid they lack the sense of humour and the tolerance that make the average Englishman. Our own Royal family love their dogs, and are rarely seen in any family group without them, but I suppose people like J. Anderson -consider their ideas of the treatment of dogs far superior to that of English Royalty. As regards England’s primary smell being that of dog, New Zealand literally stinks of cows and racehorses.

M.

SHARP

(Orini).

Sir-I have been amused by the attack on the English in the matter of spoiling their dogs. This is probably true, but it is an evasion of the main issue. I have been appalled at the callous treatment meted out to our domestic animals, dogs, and others. We in New Zealand are dependent on our animals. Many of us get our living by them and we owe them. much, yet I have seen deliberate cruelty and lack of care that has horrified me. Our working dogs-and how they work!-in 'a good many cases (not all, thank God) | are not decently treated even to the extent of being properly housed and fed. So the amount of cats who are deliberately strayed is tragic. I live a few miles from town near bush country, and have been forced to feed starving cats, or to see them starve, and usually their families too as, more often than not, it is

the mother cat, due to kitten shortly, who is abandoned. Our laws don’t seem to err on the side of humane feeling either. There is definitely very much wrong, when a man who is charged with starving his stock, which are found in such a shocking condition that they have to be destroyedthere is something wrong when such a man is fined £5. Instead of criticising the English and their ways, let us be honest and face upto our faults and see if we can’t do something to help those who cannot help themselves; who are utterly dependent on us, and yet

who heip us so-much

M.

L.

(Otago).

Sir-M. Sharp has suffered severe criticism from some of your. correspondents. I should like her to. know that I tread her letter with pleasure, and I am glad that she has such a kind heart. She is perfectly right in giving her dog and cats proper shelter at night, and I agree with her that animals are wonderful companions,\ giving affection and faithfulness to those who love and understand them. Some years ago I came to live in New Zealand. Before that I lived in England, where I was more. fortunate than your visiting correspondents, as I never witnessed anything like the "disgusting spectacles" which they describe so graphically. The dogs I knew, including mine, had dishes of their own for food and water, and were fed in the kitchen or outside. Last year I was in England again. for a few months. I was also in Scotland and Ireland; and while on my travels saw many dogs, but not one had an "offensive smell." If a dog is clean and healthy there is no smell.

ELLA

MORICE

(Gisborne).