Dogs and Lost Trampers

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 183, 1 May 1933, Page 11

Dogs and Lost Trampers

Sir, —For years past we have from time to time been shocked and challenged by reports of trampers lost in one of the inaccessible regions so numerous in our country. Again and again rescue parties have gone out, taking oil sorts of risks, in an endeavour to save life. I have, like thousands of others, followed with pained interest the record of their efforts. Never once have I seen any mention made of the use of dogs in this service. Other nations employ them. Dozens of books arc to be had recounting their clever achievements. They are helpful in the detection of crime as well as in the tracing of the victims ‘of misfortune. We have in our land hundreds of enthusiastic owners of dogs—people with a “dog sense” who would take a delight in training their pets for public service in moments of crisis. Why not organise them, enrol them in a Dominion-wide socicty, procure for it a Itoyal Charter, and ensure for all successful life-saving by such means the grateful public recognition which the Royal Humane Society accords to those who rescue the drowning? By a strange coincidence the same papers which reported a murder in the North Island gave xvord of a similar crime in TEngland. Within a week the English crime was laid bare by Hie use of dogs, n.’hoiigh more than ten years have passed, no oiie has ever been brought to book for the New Zealand murder. I understand that the argument in favour of using dogs encountered long apathy and resistance in the Homeland. Surely recent events are calculated to induce reflection in the most conservative mind.—l am, etc.. VON CLAMANTIS. Christchurch, April 27.