Pets in dozens abandoned over vacation

Press, 29 December 1979, Page 1

Pets in dozens abandoned over vacation

At this time of year many animals have to be destroyed because nobody wants them.

In the last two weeks, about 250 kittens and 50 cats have arrived at the animal home run by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, near Wigram. It is estimated that almost 75 per cent of these will have to be destroyed. The society’s president (Mr M. G. Coulbeck) said yesterday that the society had a policy of not letting any female animals out of the home unless spayed. Would-be owners were reluctant to pay for something that would be of benefit to the animal and would make it easier to look after.

“If a person cannot afford to pay for the spaying, then they are unlikely to afford to look after a pet properly,” he said. So far this holiday the society has not had any bad cases of cruelty to animals. “But,” said Mr Coulbeck, “we usually do and I suppose we will have before the holiday is over.”

He mentioned the case of a man who late last week tried to give a carton containing two small

pups, about six weeks old, to some girls in Cathedral Square, by saying that if they refused them he intended to kill the pups. “The girls took them home, but from there they were taken to a pet shop at Hornby and eventually we got them out at the home. Fortunately we found homes for ‘ them,” Mr Coulbeck said.

Earlier this week a sealed box containing two more live pups was found on the beach at New Brighton. Mr Coulbeck said the pups in that box were similar to the two handed to the girls in Cathedral Square. One of the pups was kept by the family of one of the girls who found them on the beach, and the other has since been found a home.

Although the home has been inundated by cats and kittens this year, it has not so far received as many dogs. The society has, however, received complaints from people advising that dogs have been left fastened by. neighbours who have gone away on holiday, or that the neighbour’s cat has arrived looking for food while the owner is away.