LOST, STOLEN,OR STRAYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 January 1923, Page 12

LOST, STOLEN,OR STRAYED.

1 a .1 ■ AUC-H-ArTD'S HOMEUSS PETS. THE WATERFRONT REFUGE. Scarcely a day posses but somebody loses a dog or a cat that joins the army of uncared for street prowlers that eke out a, precarious existence on scraps and garbage throughout the city. That these animals are a menace to public health is fully realised, but it is a re-, markable fact that in Auckland no steps are taken to reduce the ranks of the stray cats, although a fairly effective check is kept upon the dogs. | Blacks cats, white cats, grey cats,' tortoises-iell cats. Manx cats, mangy cats, and every other variety of the tribe' are free to prowl from one end of the city to the other, and practically no hand is raised against them —at least during the daytime. "Oft in the stilly night." when slumber's chain is rudely. snapped by the dismal howls of a cats") concert on the garden fence or the washhouse roof, a spirited attack'is not unknown, but such direct action brings but short relief and has no practical effect on the problem of prowling puss. CATS RETURN TO NATURE. It is remarkable how quickly a stray cat adapts itself to the "open-air life" and returns to something akin to the natural wild state of its forebears. This is particularly noticeable in the bush where it has been found almost impossible to get to close quarters with Tom or Tabby after a few peeks' roaming, i The wonderful sense . of direction possessed by the feline race, as demonstrated in the speed -with which a oat can return home after having been strayed. is proverbial. Recently an authority tried to explain this "pull" towards home by likening it to an elastic band with one end attached to the cat's domicile and the other to the cat. The further away the cat -was carried the more the elastic stretched and the bigger the rebound! "We thought he was a gonner," runs the music hall song, "but the cat came back." illustrating the fact that ''Bawdrin's" lias nine lives, and also emphasising the need for some action being taken in keeping down the numbers of the waifs and strays. j WANDERING KURIS. j Fortunately Auckland is fairly clear of errant dogs, although some heartless owners ruthlessly thrust the animals out of doors rather than pay the almost nominal registration fee demanded -by the various local bodies. The result is that the poundkeepers have to devote a good deal' of time to rounding up these wandering kurie, and at a time like the present, when the tax for the year is payable, there is a weird and wonderful collection of canines at some of the centres. Along with their more fortunate brothers, who I have merely strayed and whose owners I are anxiously seeking them, they are j kept by the authorities. for a limited period to allow of their being claimed. I

UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH. Practically every dog which gets into a pound-keeper's hands is under sentence of death, and only the timely, arrival of the owner can torrng a reprieve. The humane lethal chamber is the means of exit for the unwanted dog, and is available not only for strays,-but for aged or diseased pets. Owners • who,- for one reason or another, desire to have an animal destroyed, cannot adopt a. more painless method than by taking it to the poundkeeper for the purpose. TTie problem of catching a stray dog is much more difficult than "spotting" • him. In most cases a stray betrays himself by his hang-dog looks and his ! timidity. A little coaxing, however, will bring him to heel and tlhe poundI keeper is not long in "collaring" him. i One of the happy hunting grounds of ! the. Auckland dogs is the waterfront,' , where they manage to pick up a fair amount of food. 'Whether they couj grega*e there for that- reason alone or - whether they are awaiting a ohanc* bo ' ship a s stowaways on one of the ferry , boats is a moot point. The city pound- • j keepers, however, are often seen in the vicinity, and their vigilence is not unre'irarded.