A CRUEL ACT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 4

A CRUEL ACT

BOROUGH EAIPLOYEE FINED. DOG WITHOUT FOOD FOR DAYS. What was described as “one of the worst cases of its kind” came before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.AI., at the Petone Court yesterday, when Isaac Coldbeck, whoso occupation was given as that of ranger to the Petone Borough Council, was proceeded against by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on a charge of cruelly illtreating a dog. Captain James Henry, inspector to the society, stated that he received a report from Petone on Alarch 11th that a dog had been secured in a kennel belonging to the Petone Council, and had been left without water and food for upwards of two weeks. Immediately on receiving the information. Captain Henry said he proceeded to Petone, ar.d found a rough-haired collie dog in a kennel at the back of the gasworks in Udy street. The person in charge of the kennel was a borough employee named Isaac Coldbeck, and the animal was in a miserable condition. It was very thin—was only skin and bone. It had a severe injury to a foot, caused through its being run over, and there was no trace of food or water about the enclosed space where the dog wae confined. The animal was in a weak state, more dead than alive, and unable to do anything for itself. To end the dog’s sufferings it was destroyed, after it had been seen by the police. Inspector Henry expressed the opinion that the animal had been without food for several days, and its injuries had not received attention. The- defendant was convicted, and fined £5. with £1 18s costs, in default to he imprisoned for a month. Air J. O’Donovan appeared for tile society.