CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20389, 21 April 1928, Page 25

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —I have just been reading the report of the monthly meeting of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I note that Mr G. M. Thomson wrote to the society respecting h’is Bill for the suppression of the so-called sport of trap pigeon shooting. He surely deserves every support to enable him to get his Bill passed in Parliament. I sincerely hope the different S.P.C.A. societies will take this matter up in real earnest, and then wc can look for good results. I wish Mr Thomson every success. I also note that the Dunedin Gun Club has adopted the use of clay pigeons in its matches. I would suggest to the members of the Dunedin Gun Club that they go “ one better.” They could do this by non-participation in " live ” bird matches held by other gun clubs. I have repeatedly heard certain members of the Dunedin Gun Club state that the shooting of “live” pigeons is cruel, but they added: “We want the stakes.” Were “ live" bird matches entirely eliminated in favour of clay birds the stakes would still be there to win, and they would not be wen at the cost of pain and suffering to poor trapped pigeons.

Another matter I wish to bring before the notice of anin.<?J lovers (and when I say animal lovers I mean those of the active, not the passive kind) is the number of poor stray dogs that roam around the streets—homeless, lost, and so weary and sad, with nowhere to go for a bed or a meal, hunted from pillar to post until they eventually become quite stupid with fear. Within the last few weeks this lias been brought forcibly to my notice in South Dunedin. At the present time a collie dog i>- wandering homeless, and has been for weeks hunted until he is now too afraid to allow anyone to touch him. Sometimes animals wander so far from their nome that only by advertising can one hope to find their owners. I would urge all animal levers to keep a friendly eye on stray dogs and endeavour to restore them to their owners.

Where the interests of animals clash with our “sport” or “gains” each step has to be fought by, their friends. Let ail who have .he welfare of animals at heart make a determined stand against all forms of cruelty. Those who have “ not the time ” to spare for this work might be fortunate enough to have the “money” to help. Is there anyone in Dunedin who cares enough to found a shelter for the poor hunted, starving creatures that roam the streets? If you can imagine yourself in their place for even a short time, then ask yourself if you can withhold help from them.-—-I am etc., Mrs M. Wii.sox. ScaelifT, April IS.