Society for the Prevention of Crnelty to Animals.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 15

Society for the Prevention of Crnelty to Animals.

The following is the fourth annual report of the above society, to be presented at the annual meeting : —

The committee, in making this their fourth annual repjrt, have to point out with regret that there has again been a falling off both in the number of member* and in the Income of the society. They believe, however, that this i 3 due to the depressed times through which the colony is passing rather than to a want of sympathy with the objects of the society. There has been an increase in the number of juvenile associates, although not to the extent which was looked for. Finding the difficulty in collecting funds, the committee kept their expenses within the very narrowest limits, and thus they are enabled to close the financial year with a" respectable balance. They feel, however, that if the society is to do all the good •o£ 'which it is capable there will have to be a conBiderable expenditure in printing and circulating cautions and appeals on behalf of our dumb clients. During the past year 131 casee have been investigated, and 15 persons were prosecuted for various offences, all of "vhom, with one exception, were convicted. The particulars are given in the inspector's report, which is presented herewith. A large number of complaints, when looked into, were not substantiated. The change in the, law which empowers a magistrate to order the. killing Qf incurable animal* has b,een of great advantage, and seven horses and six dogs have been put out of misery by, or at the instigation of, the inspector. The committee believe that' there is a somewhat better feeling as to tile treatment of dumb animals ; but very much yet remains to be don-\

A large p'.rt of the inspector's time has been taken up in autiusconnected -with the Benevolent Institution, but it is felt that it would be unwise to sacrifice the income from this source lentil times iropr .ye, or, i>t any rate, until a more general interest is 6hown in fcho work of the society. It h.aa been 6uggestpil that the society should endeavour to gel. a. part of the lines, but the committee think that this would bo a mistake, as it would give an opportunity to people to Eay that the society was intsrested in procuring a conviction. . The number of members now on the list is 208. of whom there are three life members. There are also 87 juvenile associates.

The committee have again to express their entire satisfaction with the inspector, who continues to discharge* his duty with zeal and tact Ihey would also point out that the thanks of the soe'ety are due to Mr Weldon and the officers under him for thsr ready.Bßsietance, and also to your honorary

solicitors and veterinary surgeons, who are at all times most ready to give their professional assistance when it is required.

The inspector's report is as follows :—: —

In placing before you a report of tne work done by theiuspector of the above Bociety for the twelve months ended 30th June 1»86, the following statement will exhibit the n<tura of the offences, the proceedi .gs taken, and the results :— l3l cases were invest'gated by the society's inspector, lopersms were prosecuted, 14 persons were convicted and fined, 1 person discharged, 7 horses (suffering in consequence of being completely wornout) were destroyed atthe request ot ihe inspector, 0 dogs (suffering from mangeand otherwise incurable) were destroyed by the inspector. 74 persons were cautioned for vari us offences as under :— For working horses with open sores under the harness, 13; for working h"rses when lame, 12 ; for working horses in a weak condition, 5 ; for working horses otherwise unfit for work, 3 ; for cruelly beating and ill-treating horses, 17 ; for overloading or overdriving horses, 2 ; for keeping horses without a sufficient supply of food and water, 4; for having overstocked cows at sale-yard*, 1; for ill-treating cattle and young calves, o ; for ill-treat-ing sheep and lambs, 2 ; for overcrowding and improperly carrying fowls and geese, 9 ; for keeping towls without sufficient food and water, 1.

Out of a number of cases reported by the public to the secretary, and investigated by the inspector, 29 were not considered cruelty. Iv eases where children have been reported for committing acts of cruelty the committee htive deemed it advisable to request their psfrents to punish them. Several eases have bpen disposed ot in this way with good eifeefc. The inspector nas visited Oamaru, .Palmerston, Waitati, Port Chalmers, Mosgiel, Outram, Waihoja, Milton, Lawrence, &c, besides paving frequent visits to the cattle yards and all the suburbs of 'Dunedin. Mr Keid, your honorary solicitor at Milton, prosecuted iv one case, aud the dofendant was fined £16 ss, including costs and damages, for ill-treating a number ot sheep by keeping them penned up in the heat of the summer for a Humber of days without food or water.

Very valuable professional assistnnco has been afforded to your inspector from time to time by the society's honorary solicitors and veterinary surgeons, who are always most ready to advise him upon all points requiring their special kuowledge.

A list is attached to the report showing the cases prosecuted and the fines inflicted. The total fines inflicted amount to £43 14s Bd. The largest fine was £16 ss, in a case heard at Milton of keeping sheep penned up in the heat of summer for a number of clays without food or water. Twelve of the cases were heard at the Dunedin Police Court, and the following fines, including costs, inflicted: — Cruelly beating a horse, £3 4s 6d ; overloading and cruelly beating a horse, £2 16s ; cruelly beating and over-riding a horse, £1 8s ; cruelly beating a dog, £3 17s 6d ; working "a horse with open sores under the harness, £l 13s 6d ; working a horse with open sores under the harness, £1 14s; cruelly beating a dog, £1 6s 6d ; cruelly beating a dog, £2 3s 6d ; working a horse with open sores under the harness, £3 18s ; working a horse with open sores under the harness £1 ; working a horse with open sores under the harness, £1 17s Gd. Two cases aganiit the same person of overcrowding fowls, sent 95 miles by train, was heard at Oamaru, and a fine of £2 10s 8d inflicted.