Do you have room in your home, hearth?

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 32

Do you have room in your home, hearth?

By

SUZANNE KEEN

Do you have room in your home for an extra one in the family? Someone who is tidy and lovable, fun to be with, and gentle as well as protective? If so, how about giving Shelley or Sinjin a buzz? A permanent home with a caring family would be the best Christmas present this dark-haired girl and her brown-haired friend could wish for.

They are eight-year-old bitches rescued from the pound by Dogwatch. Shelley recently was in the pound for seven days after being neglected and dumped. Sinjin has been staying in a Dogwatch foster home for about three months.

Mrs Pat Mac Kay, of Dogwatch, said the organisation was looking for homes for about 22 dogs, of all ages, from a three-month-old pup. The older dogs were usually the hardest to place. She said the run-up to Christmas this year had been busier than in other years. Dogwatch had rescued about 18 dogs in the last month.

The organisation takes dogs from the pound after they have been there for seven days and would otherwise be put down. If people cannot be found to foster the dogs, or offer permanent homes, then Dogwatch is not able to rescue more dogs.

The Government is trying to strengthen the legislation protecting animals.

On a visit to Christchurch on Tuesday, the man who proposed the new bill, Mr Maurice Williamson, member of Parliament for Pakuranga, said he hoped the bill would become law early next year.

Mr Williamson said the bill would increase penalties for people who were cruel to animals. The law would also be broadened, so that people could be prosecuted for neglect and not just wilfully injuring. “I think it is appropriate that the issue be raised at Christmas when many animals are neglected,” he said. “There was a case in.

Auckland last Christmas when a dog was found to have been on a leash for three weeks without food, but the owner could not be prosecuted.”

Mr Williamson said he had been collecting for the S.P.C.A. when he was asked by the organisation to try to have the law strengthened.

The S.P.C.A. had a lot of international evidence to show that people who committed atrocities on animals often went on to do the same with children, he said. Anyone who can offer a home to one of the animals being cared for by Dogwatch should telephone Mrs Mac Kay, 834261.