CARE OF ANIMALS. SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT.

Evening Post, Volume LCCVI, Issue 126, 26 November 1908, Page 7

CARE OF ANIMALS. SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT.

CHANGES IN WORKING. ! To-morrow afternoon the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will hold its fifteenth annual meeting. The committee, in the report to be presented, intimates that the past year in the history of the society has been marked by some changes of importance in its working;. Shortly after the last annual meeting, the society's inspector, Mr. Alf. Williams, tendered his resignation, which was accepted, taking effect as from 30th November. The society, however, most fortunately was able to fill the position without loss of time, as, to the great gratification of the committee, Mr. F. Seed, formerly inspector for some years — resigning therefrom just prior to his departure on an extended; visit to the Old Country — on- being invited to resume the work, consented to do so. The committee feels it was very fortunate in being able to again avail of Mr. Seed's services, and he has discharged the duties to its entire satisfaction ; and it recognises the zeal, tact, and judgment evinced in connection with his work ; and; greatly appreciates tho valuable service he is rendering as the society's inspector, and wishes it had. it in its power to award him a more adequate remuneration than is at present possible, with the slender funds at Its disposal. During the same month (November) Mr. L. W. Ward resigned the office of secretary and treasurer ; and Mr. C. W. Carroll was appointed his successor, the society's office, by arrangement, being transferred to that of Mr. Carroll in the National Mutual Life Buildings, Custom-house-quay ; the fortnightly meetings J being held in the Chamber of Commerce, j through the kindness and courtesy of that body. i CASES INVESTIGATED. The following is a summary of the principal cases investigated during the year ; with some remarks thereon : — Working lame horses 112 i Working horses wilh soro backs and shoulders 4-7 Old and decrepit horses destroyed ... 62 Undue severity in flogging horses ... 8 Over-loading horses j .. 11 Under-feeding -horses ... . 27 Horses needing rest and treatment ... 26 Severely injuring horse's mouth ... 1 Over-driving horses ... 6 Warning drivers 25 Cruel treatment of cattle 14 Doga destroyed ... 2 Starving dogs ... 5 | Dog injured by gun-shot 1 Dog severely injured by boy 1 Starving kittens 3 Binding cat by boy shooting 1 Overorowding poultry iv transit ... 16 111-treating monkeys ... 3 Sundry caßes enquired into 10 DECREPIT HORSES. The report continues: — "There i» an increase of cases of decrepit and wornout horses dealt with during the year, the number being 62. In many cases the horses have been injured and turned out without getting professional advice, which, had the owners obtained, no doubt many would have recovered. But it appears to be a very common practice^ when no more work can be got out of them, to turn horses adrift so as to avoid the expense of having them destroyed and buried. Under-feeding is also very prevalent in and around Wellington ; a large percentage being little more than mere skeletons. BAD SHOEING. "As in the past bad shoeing is undoubtedly responsible for the lameness of many horses, and there is certainly great need for the passing of a Farrier's Bill, or some such measure as will ensure that only competent men shall be licensed to undertake the work. EXTRA WATER TROUGHS. "No doubt had our dumb friends the power of 6peech, they would thank the City Council and Karori Borough Council for providing extra water troughs, also for putting down stone blocks round *be drinking fountain near Post Office, in lieu of the wood block paving which was found so slippery that horses used very often to fall thereon. COURT CASES. "Only 13 cases were taken into court, owing to inability to produce what was deemed sufficient evidence to warrant legal proceedings, and some gross cases of cruelty have gone unpunished on that account. It has been gratifying to note that there has been some correspondence in the public press respecting cruel treatment to horses in ana about the city." 1. Cruelly illtreating, Wellington, fine £4, costs £5 2s 6d. 2. Working suffering from sores, Makara, fine £5, costs £1 10 a. 3. Suffering from, navicular disease, Wellington, fine £3, costs £2 10s 6d. 4. Suffering from sore back, Miramar, fine £5, costs £2 13s. 5. Sore back and lame, Wellington, five £3, costs £2 13s. 6. Working lame, Hutt, fine £2, costs £4 2s. 7. Sore shoulders, Wellington, fine £2 10s, costs £2 Bs. 8. Sore shoulders, Wellington, fine £2 10s, , costs £2 7b. ' 9. Soro back, Wellington, fine £3, costs £2 4s 6d. 10. Cruelly ill-treating, Wadestown, fine £3, costs £2 12s. 11. Soro back, Makara, fine £2, costs £1 12s. 12. Soro back, Wellington, fine £2, costs £1 Bs. 13. Lame, Wellington, dismissed. VETERINARY SURGEONS. The committee notes with regret that New Zealand is shortly to lose Mr. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, who has been the society's hon. V.S. for a number of years, and to whom it is much indebted for many valuable services. Mr. Gilruth was ever willing to afford the society's inspector all the advice and help he could ; and likewise his staff. The society has also received valuable help from Mr. Quinnell, V.S., who has rendered our inspector much assistance by giving evidence in court on several occasions. THANKS. The best thanks of the society are again due to the New Zealand Governs ment and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company for free passes over their respective lines to its inspector, I thus enabling him to attend to several ' -rc?y bad cases of cruelty at a distance. Thankst are also due to the chief and bub-inspector and , police generally, for | their co-operation and assistance ; to tho Council of the Chamber of Com- j merce for the use of the Chamber for committee meetings; to the society's hon. solicitors; to the Dominion, Evening Post, and New Zealand Times, for kindly aid and reports of the society's proceedings throughout the year ; to the Chief Veterinarian and his staff ; to Mr. C. D. Morpeth, hon. auditor ; to the friends who have helped by reporting cases requiring investigation ; and to all who have in any way assisted the society in its work. \ BALANCE SHEET. The balance sheet shows that £36 10s 5d was brought forward from last year, whicn, together with subscriptions, amounting to £171 3s 6d, makes a totai of £2T7 13s lid. The expenditure amounted to £170 8s lid, leaving a credit balance at the close of the year of £47 ss.