Dogs’ lives not too unpleasant

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 1

Dogs’ lives not too unpleasant

Christchurch petowners appear to be treating their animals well these holidays. So far the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has not had to deal with many neglected pets.

The society’s inspector, Mr D. Milne, said that his only complaint was that neighbours who were caring for dogs whose owners were on holiday seemed reluctant to let them off their chains for exercise.

“They are giving the dogs food and water, but because they are afraid the animal will bolt if they do let it off the chain, the tendency is simply to leave the animal chained up,” he said. The result is that the dogs become bored and are often a barking nuisance, said Mr Milne.

Mr Milne said that the society was also having to attend to pet sheep left tethered in gardens by owners away on holiday. “Though they had grass, some were without water. They are also vulnerable to attacks at night by dogs. One which was badly flyblown had to be destroyed. Three or four found staggering about and unbalanced, the result of brain damage, have also been put down,” he said. It surprised Mr Milne that, though a Health Department by-law forbade the keeping of sheep in built-up areas, people still kept them.

The animals’ home at Hornby had an increased population at present as a result of abandoned dogs and especially cats and kittens. “We have more than 100 cats just now, and our cages are all full,” Mr Milne said.