THE RIGHTS OF DOGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14907, 4 March 1914, Page 11

THE RIGHTS OF DOGS.

ALLE&ED CRUELTY OF MOTORISTS.

A LEGAL OPINION

i At tbo meeting of the Council of the ) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty ';, to Animals Inst night, a somewhat important question was discussed, namely, the alleged cruelty of motorists and others in running over dogs in the streets and,not stopping to look after ' them. ■ - ■''..' The chairman stated that recently *hi*s ;• „. pet dog wae run over and lulled by a k> , motorist going at' a high speed. *Ho [ complained a day or two later to the [■ motorist, who contended that animals on the roads had no status,, and he therefore disclaimed any responsibility :, m the matter. ■■■ Two lady members said thj»t the other < «*y a cart had run over a dog in the L and the driver had not even .."looked round. The dog had its lee woken. . 1, The chairman eaid he had felt so t'p etrongly on tho subject that ho had ■ ... written to the Society's honorary eolioiS ;»O, Messrs Duncan, Cotterill and - e*nnger, for a legal opinion. Their re- ' P»y stated that under the Police Of- - i tenoes Act any person who crueliy illtreated a dcg. no matter, by what i - *««", was liable. Section 24 of the «30S Registration Act provided that if any dog on any highway or any unenclosed place, rushes at, attacks, or etartlee any person or horso, cattle, or other animal, whereby the life or limbs or any person are endangered, or any • .property is endangered,-or injured, such. . <jog m3 y be immediately killed." That . however, does not mean'that a motorist ~ u,d , dnve recklessly over a dog and , « subject to no liability, either civilly : or criminally. The whole question was - : <mc of fact in each case. If a motorist oy au careless, reckless, or furious driv- • *aj, killed or injured a dog, that .- aotonst was liable civilly. A most .we and satisfactory definition of - v . wa& glven *» "unnecessary Jbnse of the animal." A guilt^SS . »age was essential, and must be proved -. otherwise, the accused could not be eaid ■ JtfejJ 117 - U a motorist "cWeesly or deliberately drove over, , ay an unregistered dog, sleeping Jn a ; - PaWio highway, he would clearly be emlty oi cruelty, and liable to proseeotion under the Police Offences Act