Upper Hutt Dogs To Be Shot Quickly

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 7

Upper Hutt Dogs To Be Shot Quickly

The Press’* Special Service

WELLINGTON, December 20.

Dogs impounded by the Upper Hutt City Council and unclaimed within seven days may now be shot or otherwise disposed of without further delay.

This was stated by a vicepresident of the Upper Hutt branch of the S.P.C.A. (Mr A. Heathcote-White), who said the council used to impound the dogs for 21 days before destroying them or disposing of them. Mr Heathcote-White said that since publication of a recent article concerning the council’s regulations pertaining to impounded dogs the council had reduced the impounding period, and, in addition, had sought from the S.P.C.A. additional fees previously not asked for when the society took a dog from the pound. Mr Heathcote-White said the council now asked the

S.P.C.A. to pay impounding fees, registration fees, pickup fees, and all advertising costs. The cost to the S.P.C.A. to get a dog out of the pound was £5 10s, plus advertising costs.

“I regard the shortening of the impounding period from 21 days to seven, plus the demand for payment of pickup fees and advertising costs, as a vindictive action,” said Mr Heathcote-White, “and I have gone to the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) about it and he has promised me he will investigate the matter. “Why can’t the Upper Hutt City Council let us have the dogs for payment of a registration fee?” he asked.