THE CITY'S "STRAYS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18662, 19 March 1924, Page 11

THE CITY'S "STRAYS."

NEED FOR DOG RANGER. MENACE TO PUBLIC HEALTH. DEFECTS OF THE POUND. COMPLAINTS TO COUNCIL. Allegations of neglect on ho part of Hie Auckland City Council in regard to the treatment and care of stray animals in the city were made by a deputation from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which waited on l.ii," Finance Committee of the council yesterday. The Rev. P. S. Smalltleld, who introduced the deputation, stated that in the interests ol the animals and of riuc civic administration the. whole matter of the treatment of stray dogs in the city required thorough reformation. There was urgent need for the inpointment of a dog ranger, the work af collecting stray dogs and destroying them now being done to a great extent }.v the Society's inspector, Mr. Noble Webster. Tho official deputed by the pitv Council to act as dog ranger was ilso a traffic department employee, and found very little time to look after stray animals. A city of the size and importance of Auckland should surely be. able to support a dog ranger, whose exclusive duty it would be to capture the dogs, convey them to the pound, feed and attend to them there 'and destroy tviih a humane killer the unwanted i-iiruals. Many complaints had been made wnh regard to the feeding of the animals, and hoy would -undoubtedly have starved, in many instances, had i; not been for the kindness of City Council workmen in throwing them scraps of food and the compassion of others distressed their wailing.

Mr. Smalluold -urged that as the uji.pector spent a great deal of time in taking dogs in tho pound the council should either grant him a free pass or make a donation to the funds of the society to cover thf> cost of a yearly ticket, as had been done for many years in Wellington. ' The request was made that the new lethal chamber, which was not in use. should Ihj dismantled and extra spice given for tbo accommodation of stray dogs, also that impounded horses sh'vuld not bo required to stand on concrete in a stall, but that the two stalls at the her so pound should be Converted into a loofe-hox, and some kind oi bedding provided for the animals.

Dr. Fv. M. Bealtie, president of the society, supported Mr- Smallfield's appeal, basing his remarks on the menace to public health presented by diseased cats and dogs being allowed to roam the streets at will: Such animals were carriers of many diseases, and it was the duty of the City Council to take the matter properly in band and provide for them, as had been done in other cities.

Mrs. A. E. Kernot said that, having visited practically all the 'leading cities of the world, she could affirm that in no English-speaking city were stray dogs eo callously and inhumanely treated as m Auckand. In the past tho kennels had been so nrglected 'that kindhearted women had obtained admission and swept them out, had taken food and water to the dogs and otherwise cared for the impounded animals. In Wellington there were three dog rangers whose entire duty it was to collect and care for the city "strays." The statements were supported by Mrs. Turner and Miss Jackfon, the former giving instances of difficulty in having injured ana diseased dogs destroyed. On the other hand, it was alleged do?s were often killed at once, instead of being sold, as required by the by-law. ' The chairman of the Finance Committee. Mr. J. Robertson, stated in reply that the deputation had brought forward a number of matters which the committee had not known of before, and these would be given full consideration.