POISON FOR DOGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 15

POISON FOR DOGS

Sir, —About the time the letter signed " Resident " of St. Heliers Bay, appeared in the Herald, six dogs belonging to residents of that district were found poisoned on the beach. Last Sunday a large dog bid his farewell to the world in terrific convulsions of, agony on the beach, the .result of strychnine poisoning only to be followed later by a small fox terrier, then in rapid succession three other dogs. The total was six. This is surely a drastic and cruel means to adopt. Any medical man or even a layman knows the appalling and excruciating death caused by strychnine poisoning. But the seriousness of the position does not by any means end here. Do the public realise for a moment what poisoned food, laid with whatever intention, means on a public beach, and such a popular beach as St. Heliers Bay? It is visited by thousands of happy young children, who scatter round and often wander in their play away from the watchful maternal eye. What, more natural but that one of these children will pick up a piece of tempting sandwich or cake, whatever the poisoner has used, and despatch it in the way of healthy children. This is no matter for casual comment but a very serious crime, and a public menace of such magnitude with results of so far reaching and disastrous a nature as to cause terrible sorrow and suffering in many homes. If the person who so thoughtlessly and ruthlessly laid this poison is known or suspected by any of the residents of St. Heliers Bay I suggest that as a humane act to the public generally they give the information to the authorities. If we cannot educate all our public to the humane treatment of animals, surely there is something to appeal to when 4 it comes to the lives of innocent, happy children. Secretary S.P.C.A.