Member Defends S.P.C.A. Activities

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 16

Member Defends S.P.C.A. Activities

Publicity has been given to a certain amount of strife which has recently developed in the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says a member of the society in a supplied statement. The time is overdue for recognition of the numerous achievements of the society since last November. when a new management council with a new chairman and a new president took over. Considering the short time these people have had to carry out this work in the nature of a spare time activity, the progress accomplished is astonishing. This progress could not have been made without the careful and successful selection of the paid employees of the society, the secretary and the manager of the animals’ home. Under the secretary’s capable hands the affairs of the society are running smoothly and efficiently. The animal home manager is carrying out the functions of cuch an institution effectively for the first time in many years. Both he and his wife are true animal lovers and as such are qualified to handle the animals under their care. A selected list of recent achievements may illustrate the valuable work of the Canterbury S.P.C.A.

(1) Financial affairs of the society, including membership subscriptions, receipts and others, promptly attended to. (2) The society’s constitution has been revised, with a view to allowing members greater participation in the society’s affairs. Ordinary members may now attend council meetings and the entire council and president come up for reelection at each annual meeting. . (3) Animals at the Sockburn home kept clean, wellfed, healthy and contented. (4) All animals, before entering the home undergo a thorough veterinary check, all Christchurch veterinarians being used. (5) No animal is put down by the home manager except in accident emergencies. Animals which have to be destroyed because of disease or wildness are destroyed by a veterinary surgeon. (6) The animal home is used as a transit station only. The placing of homeless cats into good homes is a duty carried out by the home manager and his wife who insert appropriate advertisements in the daily newspapers.

During the last two week-ends, 20 cats and several dogs left the Sockburn home to become somebody’s pets. (7) Assistance is given to the owners of lost animals by means of an efficient office telephone service. Descriptions of lost and found cats and dogs are kept by the home manager’s wife. (8) Ambulance service for accident cases. This will presently be available seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Radiotelephone will be installed in the ambulance. The service is also available to all veterinary surgeons. (9) Advice and help are extended to the public with problems of stray animals. (10) More attention will presently be given to the prosecution of cases of cruelty to animals. (11) Membership of the society has risen considerably, partly through efforts made by individual members, and partly through the public’s awareness of the society's recent activities. (12) With all these activities the financial assets of the society have in no way diminished.