DANGEROUS DOGS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 February 1935, Page 11

DANGEROUS DOGS

RETRIEVER AND ALSATIAN DESTRUCTION TO bE ARRANGED Tivd hie:! were charged jut the, VVeiHagtdri Magistrate's Court yesterday with being the owners of dogs which attacked people, and if. each case the Magistrate granted a week's adjournment in order that the owners might comply -with his suggestion that the animals—one a retriever and the other an. Alsatian—should be destroyed (reports tlie “Post”), "My dog never bit anybody in the street. Pm guilty of the dog biting, biit not in the street. He was inside his own gate, sir,”, said James Laing Stewart when asked how he pleaded to being the owner of it dog which attacked Constable R. D. Gardiner in Glniznee street. Two police constables, a sergeant, and two civilians, Sub-Inspector Roheli stated, were attacked by Stewart’s black retriever: The incident on which tlie present charge was based happened at 8.45 p.m. bn 12tli January, when Constable Gardiner, crossing Glniznee strfeet to investigate the noise of an altercation, was bitten on the leg _ by the defendant’s dog. The bjte bruised his leg badly ahd penetrated the skin. The’ defendant knew the dog Was dan geroiis, for it had bitten another constable and a sergeant and had attacked a woman, and a girl. Constable Gardiner gave evidence tliiit the dbg held oil to liis leg for two- minutes. He was just going to draw liis baton On it when it wits called off by a woman wild kiiew it. Tlie constable showed the Magistrate the scars on his leg. Stewart told the Magistrate that; after t]ie incident he sent tlie, dog to Lake Ferry. Ho riiaintaiiied that the dog was inside the gate, riot on the footpath, when the constable was bitten.' Mr Page : “It looks to mie as . though this dog ought to be destroyed. . . . I’ll adjourn the case for one week for you to destroy the dog within that time.”

ALSATIAN FOR PROTECTION

A Hindu, Goviiid Hira, was charged with being the ownbr, bf aii Alsatian dog which attacked J. J. Scott hi Jessie street.

fThe Sub-Inspector said that at aiioiit 7,30 p.m, on 16th January Mr Scott, an old-age pensioner, was walking home along Jessie street when tile defendant’s Alsatian r ; ushed at. hiqi arid bit him. on the ,chest. The dpg)s teeth went through .his waistcoat and., shirt and penetrated .the skin,, making a wound about half, an inch.long.- .. .. For the defence Mr. T,. P,McCarthy explained that the defendant was in the habit of going home late at. night with money in his, possession., He.had to go along a dark and. narrow rlgnt-pf-wa-y. which was. frequented by methylated spirits addicts, and other undesirables, and as he was .a man of small stature he was frightened and got the dog for protection.. . During.the day the animal was confined to the defendant’s shop and when in . the street it was always under control,, but on the day in question it had been taken out by friends of the defendant without iris knowing. It jumped up at the old man in its enthusiasm and tore'lris chest with its front paws, but. did not bite him. Counsel understood that civil proceedings were contemplated arid lie submitted that .the.injured man’s interpretation of what had happened was influenced by his desire for damages. At the Magistrate’s suggestion both sides -brought evidence, although a plea of guilty had been entered. John Jacob Scott said that the dog had bitten him, and Elizabeth Piercey, a waitress, supported this statement. “It appears to me to be-a very savage dog,” said Constable Scott, but he admitted to Mr McCarthy that the defendant’s neighbours had no complaints. Him and another Hihdii gave evidence of the dog’s good character. “I think this case is somewhat similar to the other,” said Mr Page. He was satisfied that the dog was savage and dangerous and that it had bitten the man on the chest. He thought it another case where the animal should he destroyed, and he adjourned tlie matter for it week to enable the owner, to arrange for its destruction. MOTORISI’S ! Here’s the ideal polish for yolir car—“TAN-OL. ” Easy to apply ! Economical to use ! Safe for fabric or dueo-finished surfaces! Cleans and polishes. Sold by all Stores. Try it!