KILLING DOGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 21 July 1930, Page 3

KILLING DOGS.

USE OF PRUSSIC ACID. DEMONSTRATION FORBIDDEN. The killing of unwanted dogs and cats by prussic acid was discussed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last week, and the committee decided to endeavour to arrange a public demonstration of the killing of a dog by this means in the City Council yards, on Saturday morning. However, through the protests of the Humanitarian Society and the intervention -of Councillor A. L Fraer, the demonstration was forbidden, as far as the Council yards are concerned, on the grounds of cruelty. On the other hand the inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr D. White, states that prussic acid is painless, and that he destroyed a cat, for some Papanui people, by this means on Saturday morning with very satisfactory results, Mrs M. Houston? of the Humanitarian and Anti-Vivisection Society, told a representative of The Press on Saturday that , prussic acid took up to 10 minutes to kill a dog, and that the process was an exceedingly painful one. "The torture is shocking," she said, "therefore we approached Councillor Fraer, who has seen to it that no killing by prussic acid will be allowed in the City Council yards." "No prussic acid demonstration will be sanctioned by the City Council," said Cr. Fraer. "The system is frightfully cruel. I have conferred with the City Engineer (Mr A. R. Galbiraith) and' the Electricity Department and such a demonstration has been absolutely forbidden as far as we are concerned. At present there are eight dogs in the Council yards at Moorhouse avenue, and Cr. C. E. Jones is interesting himself in their welfare. They are not children's pets but are probably dogs which the owners have found too expensive to keep. Possibly anyone wanting a dog could secure one through Cr. Jones. "The plans for the lethal chamber have been approved by the Humanitarian Society and they will come before the City Council on Monday night. The building work will commence as soon as they are passed, the cost being borne by ; both the City Council and the Humanitarian Society. The building will be in brick and should take a very short time to complete, for the job is not a costly one. The principle employed will be the same as that used in England." The Chief City Inspector, Mr It Hardie, agreed with Cr. Fraer that prussic acid caused great suffering.

Use of Acid Upheld. "If the Humanitarian Society wishes to have a lethal chamber we will not stand in its way," said Mr White. "But I cannot agree that, prussic acid is cruel. I have used prussic acid for 12 years and have disposed of about 1800 animals. In each case the owner has been entirely satisfied." . Mr George-Biltcliff stated that he had not hsid an opportunity of seeing the working of a lethal chamber, but that he was' quite satisfied, from experience, that prussic acid was a very humane method of killing a dog or cat.