AN AMERICAN LADY AND HER DOGS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7373, 27 January 1902, Page 4

AN AMERICAN LADY AND HER DOGS.

PBOTEST AGAINST THE NEW ZEALAND LAWS.

The New York Herald, of December 2nd, gives prominent place to a communication from Auckland about the quarantine on dogs. The Herald says : — From far-off New Zealand the Herald has received a letter from an American woman, Mrs Alice J. Bolles, describing the rigors of the quarantine enforced by the British authorities against three pet dogs which the writer took with her to Auckland.

One of the dogs, a Blenheim, valued at 500 dollars (JS100), rejected the food offered by the health officer - crackers and milk — and died of a broken heart. To save the other two, Mrs Bollts abandoned her apartments in tbe Progmore Hotel, in Auckland, and for months has lived at Motuihi, an island used for quarantine purposes, in a stall 12 feet square, formerly occupied by a bull. Captain Dreyfus's prison, on the Isle de Diable, she writes, was a paradise in comparison with her surroundings.

Mrs Bolleß warns her countrymen that the New Zealand officials are cold and unsympathetic, and that even dogs of high pedigree are unwelcome. Her letter reads as follows :—: —

" Mocuihi, Quarantine Island,

" Auckland, New Zealand, Oct. 23, 1901. 41 To the Editor of the New York Herald :

11 Do warn people not to bring their dogs to a country like this, where tbe English quarantine prevails, and where one's pets are held for six months and fed only on crackers and milk, which most dogs will not eat. " I came here on June 18, with three beautiful little dogs, one a Blenheim and two baby spaniels, all in first-rate condition. The little Blenheim stood it for four months and two days, and then died of neglect and grief. It was indeed dreadful to see her condition.

11 At the end, when they found her so ill, they allowed me to remain with her, but it was too late, and she died.

""When we reached this miserable Auckland, and the health officer found there were dogs on board, he ordered them to be shut up, and the butcher put them in his cabin. Then, after waiting a couple of hours, a tug came alongside of the steamer, and my pets were handed down to an employee of the doctor. Then we all came to this God-forsaken island — Motuihi. I am sure chat Devil's Island, where poor Dreyfus was confined, could have been no worse.

" When the little Blenheim became ill they allowed me to come and stay with her. I am still here, and these lines are penned from my living ' apartments ' — a stall, 12ft square, containing a cot, one rug, which I brought with me, and some meal bags here and there, and two mangers standing on end, which serve as stands. One supports my spirit lamp, and the other is by my bod, holding the night candle. There are also two boxes for the dogs, and a table.

" And this they consider a favour. I am staying here with the two remaining dogs, so that they may receive proper treatment and come out alive. The occupant of these quarters before I came was a quarantined bull. The place is full of rats. Last evening, while standing at my door ,1 counted no less than eight big rats at one time on my doorstep. They run and squeal and make the night hideous.

" After my dogs are liberated on 1 ticket of leave,' I shall have to pay £16 10s, or 82-50 dollars. The little Blenheim that died cost me 500 dollars. I should think after reading this that Americans will be very shy about bringing their dogs to such a country.

" It cost me 500 dollars to bring my furniture here, but now, after all that I have gone through, I will not give this country a chance to benefit with' any of my money. When the dogs are released two months hence I shall auction off my furniture and start back to the only country on 6arth worth living in — America. — Aliob J. Bolles."