THE DOG NUISANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 805, 12 September 1864, Page 5

THE DOG NUISANCE.

{To the Editor of the Daiiy Time 3.)

Slr.—lt is to be hoped that the l'tter which appeared in your columns a few day 3 ago from tlie pen of Mr Jno. Cargill, may have the effect of attracting the attention of the authorities to this subject, and be the means of producing an abatement^ of the annoyance arising from so many dogs being •'kept" for no earthiy purpose whatever, except as pets or companions for the owners ; we said kept, but no, they are allowed to stray through town and country—night and day, the owners being totally indifferent to the mischief and annoyance they create. Mr Cargill has well described the losses our country friends sustain thereby, but in town the annoyance is much greater, and the destruction to property n^t much less. Piling fences are no protection -against large dogs prowling about at night in search of food, which their masters should provide for them in the day time, and when excited by the chase after a sister of the feline tribe, the destruction of gar Jen produce is really considerable. Take th-i ease of a nurseryman who has been for two or three years rearing some rare plants, and at length sees his long cherished expectations about to bs realised; he goes into the nursery and finds all his hopes blasted, all his labor lost ; the plant having been trodden down by some heavy cur, or torn up dur ing the more desperate struggle of poor pussy for her life. , . .".„., We have not adverted to llie injuries inflicted upon inoffensive passengers and children in the streets, or to those whose duty it is to deliver goods at private houses, where savage dogs are often kept loose iv the yird ; neither have we alluded to the cost it would be if the owner of each dog provided ior hb own, in an honest way. Indeed we do not think it going too far to suppose that the consumption by so many dogs, must tend to enhance the p,ice of butchers' meat. In 1861 th« Dog Or iinance was put in force for a few weeks, and the abatement of the nuisance was obvious to the mo3t. careless observer. The enclosed extract from a home papar, show 3 that the authorities at Liverpool are in earnest, and should be a !es3on to us of Dunedin. We would suggest a tas upoa every dog landed ia the colony, to be levied the same as custom dues, this would tend materially to cheek the cvii.

Yours, &c, Dogberry, or Dog-sort,