DOG NUISANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 8

DOG NUISANCE.

Mr. Purdy's interest is much appreciated, and if he is in a position to in any wav mitigate this nuisance his help will be more than welcome. One infers from his letter that lie is connected with the S.P.C.A., but his name does not appear in the membership list, nor on inquiry can I trace him on the executive. committee, hospital or any staff in connection with this society. However, if he xriH state where he is to be found or leave hk address at the. office of this paper. I trill gladly give him particulars that will more than convince him of the accuracy of statements contained in my letter. I can assure him. too, that both the City Council and the S.P.C.A. are fully alive to the undesirable state of affairs. In the case of the City Council, it is content to flick an eyelid over the situation now and again, such as exhibiting placards in food shops restricting doge from entering, but this, like the majority of the city's by-laws, is observed by the public -with easy nonchalance. As regards the activities of the S.P.C.A., this society, with limited funds and staff, does excellent work, ae anyone can sec by perusing the annual report and balance-sheet. The society has only two inspectors, whose work is chiefly confined to suburban and rural districts. Moreover, the S.P.C.A.'s activities in the city are restricted to a certain extent as this area comes under the jurisdiction of the City Council, and it is to this body we look for assistance. If Mr. Purdy will re-read my letter 'he ■will note that I do not unduly stress the "stray" aspect of this nuisance, although their numbers are pitifully large. Many of these animals roaming the streets and engaged at intervals in a

general melee to the danger of pedestrian and road traffic are accompanied by their owners, who see no necessity for exercising any restraint upon them. Many more have homes in streets adjacent to Karangahape Road, hut arc allowed to run wild. The object of my letter was to point out the apathetic attitude of the City Council towards this unhealthy and (to the shopkeeper) desperately- vexatious problem. CLEANLINESS FIRST.