CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

ANIMAL WELFARE

HELP AND EDUCATION

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I hope that many people were impressed by the article in last Thursday's "Evening Post" headed "Animal Welfare in New Zealand: They Do It Better Elsewhere." Here in Wellington a small group ,of people are banded together in tlie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to try and wipe away this reproach on our national life.

New Zealand is definitely a country in which animals bulk to a far greater extent than in the old countries, where industry has taken the place of agriculture. Why is it, we ask ourselves, that there is so much callousness in caring for sick or injured sheep dogs, cattle, horses, and sheep, and so much apathy as to their wellbeing?

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is this year trying to make a great forward move both in j their measures to alleviate the suffer- ' ings of animals and in their attempt to create a better public opinion. The Women's Auxiliary of the society, for which I speaki is already at work in an attempt to raise funds for providing an ambulance and clinic for the Wellington district. The main society is, we understand, making its objective the creation of an animal hospital and the provision of another veterinary surgeon. It is almost unbelievable that in a large city like Wellington where there are thousands of animals who are family friends, there are not more qualified veterinary surgeons.

My particular object in writing this letter is to plead for a public recognition of the work that the Women's Auxiliary is doing, and to ask for a generous response to the appeal we are making' for the ambulance and clinic. We have already got £108 towards that purpose, but £500 is needed for the success of the venture.

We are attempting,,, also to create a new attitude towards the animal creation. We should like to know that carelessness and cruelty to animals is being regarded not as a very minor offence, but as an offence which deserves the severe punishment with which it meets in the Old Country.

We would also appeal to the civic' and educational authorities to do all | in their power to create in'the children of our nation the right attitude towards j animals. I myself have seen five dogs! and a cat carried from a lethal chamber and thrown into the rubbish cart at 10 a.m. with children watching. How ] can children learn to love and care for dumb animals when they see such things? In this respect the Churches are being invited to take an. active part, and it is hoped that on the first Sunday of October, which is within a day or two of the Festival of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of all animals, the clergy of all .denominations will both speak on this subject and also pray for God's dumb creation. We are hoping that by this and other means we may achieve something worth while on behalf of animals of all kinds, whom many of us know to be our, loved and trusted friends. Any donations or inquiries towards this cause will be. gladly received by myself as treasure** of the "Women's Auxiliary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. —I am, (Miss) K. B. ROBSON. Bishopscourt, July 8, 1938.