Cruelty To Animals

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 16

Cruelty To Animals

Sir,—l entirely agree with the people who have written about the hideous cruelty of using cyanide and phosphorus to destroy animals. There must surely be less agonising methods of controlling them. Unfortunately in these days there are many people who think the infliction of pain and misery are justified if it makes money for them, and there are some foul practices for this end. I am glad to say that in England some shops refuse to sell birds that are raised in batteries. People wisely prefer “free run” birds. One reads letters about “filthy, noisy” dogs. Dogs are delightful and faithful animals, but unless people are prepared to feed, supply water, exercise and control them properly, they have no right to own them. What a sorry tale some of them could tell if they could speak. People who abandon their animals are despicable. —Yours, etc., M. DEAN. July 20, 1964. Sir, —I do not know what poison was used, but my beautiful two-year-old tabby cat and two strays died slow, agonising deaths under my house, and two kittens and other strays disappeared all in one day. It was raining, and I was ill, and being an old woman, I was helpless, [except that in the dark I [tried to reach my own cat. ■ but the cries ceased, so I knew he was dead. He was so gentle and sympathetic in my illness that it was a heartbreak to hear him suffering and not be able to help him. If a killer must use a poison why not a painless one? I have caught quite a number of strays by feeding them where they could be shut in, and the S.P.C.A. collected them and gave a painless death.—Yours, etc., STRICKEN. July 20. 1964.

Young Dancers.—More thin 60 aspiring young dancers in Wellington last night sought to fill 10 positions in the New Zealand Ballet Company’s production of ’’Petrouchka.” —(PA.)