PRISON FOR CRUELTY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 3

PRISON FOR CRUELTY

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. “Public conscience demands a term of imprisonment for this offence,” Mr A. A. Coates, S.M., told Frederick George Harrison (33), boilermaker, when he appeared for sentence on a charge of aggravated cruelty to an Alsatian dog. He was imprisoned for three months and ordered to pay £2O 4s compensation. At an earlier hearing, when Harrison pleaded guilty, Detective Sergeant B. T. N. Hutton, told the court an officer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had called the incident “the worst case of wilful cruelty he had known.” At the former hearing, evidence was given that the Alsatian, named Tess, had mauled a terrier cared for by Harrison. After discovering the terrier’s injuries, Harrison took the Alsatian from its owner, Pamela le Grice, aged 15, as

she played with it in Fourth avenue, Kingsland. He tied the dog to the rear bumper of his car and drove off, dragging Tess along the roadway. After driving till the dog was almost dead, Harrison untied the rope and left Tess lying in the roadway. The dog had to be destroyed. His counsel, Mr P. A. Williams, said Harrison had already been punished. Because of the anger felt by his neighbours, Harrison had left the home he had lived in for many years, and he now intended to make a new life for himself in Australia.

The Magistrate said: “Nothing has been said that can possibly excuse you from this deliberate cruelty to a dumb; animal. “The previous good character of the offender should not be allowed to detract from the gravity of this offence. “Whatever reason you had. there was no justification in going to such lengths. “You admitted you Intended to kill the dog by dragging, because you could not do it with your hands. "Any humane person would regard this as a shocking and brutal act Public conscience demands a term of imprisonment.”