Dogs

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 20

Dogs

Sir,—Congratulations to the Post Office for featuring dogs on its new health stamps. Maybe at last dogs are to be recognised as part of our life. Too often they are hounded and blamed for the irresponsible owner. Dogs are dosed for hydatids, which neither Australia nor the United Kingdom introduced. Only raw sheep offal can cause hydatids in dogs. Most city owners cannot afford to feed their dogs with such food. The cost of dosing brings registration fees for dogs far in excess of the $3 paid in Australia for registration. A dog’s life in this country is often not a happy one because of biased laws and lack of care. It is not the dog’s fault if abandoned, but the fault of cruel, heartless humans. The selfish owners leave unclaimed faithful pets in a cold pound to the uncertain fate of a new owner or untimely death. It is a pity that this city does not have, a haven like the St Francis Sanctuary in Auckland, where dogs and other animals are rehoused and never destroyed— there are a few caring dedicated citizens.—Yours, etc.,

- IVY V. KENCH. August 15, 1982.