MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 558, 13 July 1909, Page 9

MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

AND nO,W HE IS TREATED

"The work is getting .too fmich for me; I don't know how to cope with it," said Mr. Seed, Inspector of tho Cruelty to Animals Society in Wellington, to a Dominion reporter yesterday. "Do you know that, apart from ordinary cases of cruelty, I have had to condemn seven horses to bo slaughtered during tho last fortnight—most of them in work? On two occasions I was called to Taita and Potone 'by information, received. I took' ono horse out of the pound, another I stuck lip in Manners Street in active work before tho eyes of all who would see. The worst case, however, was that of a horso which I discovered in a cart in Dixon Street.

It was such a shocking bad case that I, was in half a mind to send for one of you reporters just so as you could seo for yourself to what lengths some people will go in misusing the faithful animal that is helping them to_ earn, a livelihood.' The beast was falling in its harness. What was tho 'matter with it? What wasn't, you mean I The poor thing was a complete wreck. It *aa very" old, all but completely gone in the foTelegs, its back was covered with sores, and it had ringbone, j Yet that horse had staggered in from Kfilbirnie! I called on Mr. Quinncll, who issued a death certificate, but the poor old thing was too weak to lead from tho loose-box, which I had pnt him in. In fact, we- had the greatest difficulty in getting tho animal out of the loose-box at all, and had to kill him there and then. "It is very hard work, and I havo come to ' the conclusion thai fines by tVe Court are of little avail as a cheok on cruelty. A couple of cases have been severely dealt with lately —fined £5 and costs —but it does not seem to havo tho desired effect. They don't seem to mind paying the fines. Not until tho magistrate will give an offender a month's imprisonment without tho option of a fine will oruelty to a,nim*ls, and in particular to horses, be cJieckfd. "Overloading in Wellington is as bad as ever it was—if not worse. Tho Harbour Bosrd decided to help me all they could, and so I made uso of the weighbridge figures to detect cases of overloading. On ono occasion I got a list of no fewer than 17 cases, and as it was simplef to get a conviction under the city by-laws than under tho Police Offences Act, I put tho cases m the hands of Vtho Municipal Inspector (Mr. Doyle), not thinking that I had power to prosecute under ,tho by-Taws (which I havo since ascertained I have). In tho papor.l was astonished to read that Mr. Doylo had only prosecuted in four cases, and had actually pleaded that no penalty should bo inflicted as there were mitigating circumstances. Though Mr. Doylo took charge of the cases in Court it wa3 on ray information, and I know of Wo mitigating circumstancos.' A one-horse- dray should only draw two tons net, yot here (pointing to tho weighbridge list) is ono with 2 tons 13civt., another with 2 tons llcwt., two with 2 tons fiewt., «nd so on right down tho list. Since then I have scon Air. Dayle about the caso, but.could got no satisfaction out of him, but I am going right through with the matter. No better and truer evidence could bo got of overloading than the figures, which the drivers and owners accept as •, the correct weight of the load, yet the ofFenco is "made non-punishable in this manner."