LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS

Southland Times, Issue 19690, 24 October 1925, Page 22

LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS

Conducted by

COUSIN BETTY

COUSIN BETTY'S LETTER. Good morning again, my Cousins— Can you ever guess where I am writing this? In bed, with the sun pouring down up-on me, and the birds outside sending continuous ■parkling little notes into the air and the hearts of all those who are awake to listen. And my heart is whispering very softly—“ This is Spring”—l do not need to shout it with such glorious proof all around me. In fact, I am just considering the possibilities of a bathe this morning before sallying forth to daily toil (which somehow or other does not seem like toil any longer in such a jewelled world). Have any of you been in bathing yet? I am just wondering whether it would not be better if we called ourselves, instead cf “Sunshine Workers,” “Public Bath Workers,” and •ee if each one of us cannot do our bit in building baths of our own. Do you think we would have the support of the rest of Invercargill in that ? Anything, it is much too nice a morning to mar with raised eyebrows and questioning looks. Rather, I must consider the possibilities of Thompson’s Bush, Pleasure Bay, or Avenal, none of which are enticingly attractive, are they! Never mind, I’ll just smile again, and make the best of it, even if I just have to pop into my morning bath as usual. Now, I I was going to talk to you about the Animal Welfare Week, which is to be celebrated throughout New Zealand from Monday to Saturday of next week. I know just how many of you have animal pets which you love very much, and this movement is to instil in others that love by your own actions and precedence. Here is what Mr J. A. Forbes of Oamaru, the organiser, writes: — *1 have been asked to again organise an Animal Welfare Week throughout New Zealand. Humane teaching, which has a far-reaching importance, is now being given increased attention in practically all parts of the world. The efforts made by churches, schools, and other institutions on the last two occasions impel us to believe that this year’s Animal Welfare Week will result in a still kinder, wiser, and more considerate treatment of dumb and defenceless creatures. It should be surely unnecessary in a civilised country to plead for those who cannot plead for themselves. The fact remains, however, that there is unfortunately a great deal of cruelty indulged in, much of it no doubt the result of ignorance and want of thought. What is most particularly needed is a concentrated and combined movement by all interested in young people to educate our boys and girls to a realisation of the fact that animals have certain rights which must be recognised. This is, of course, manifestly of consequence, not only to the animals, but also in the true interests of the boys and girls themselves. School teachers, nowadays, are Dot slow to acknowledge that the teaching of kindness to animals has a most marked influence in the conduct of their pupils. The co-operation and assistance is, therefore, invoked of all churches, educational and moral reform bodies as well as all newspapers in the Dominion, so that this year’s Annual Welfare Week will to a large extent, be successful in accomplishing the objects m view.” 3o you see he has told you its object very clearly and capably, for each one of you to understand. To Southlanders, perhaps more than to people in other parts of New Zealand, this should appeal, because there are so many of you who live on farms, and there are surprisingly few homes, even in Invercargill, which have not some pet, be H a cat, a dog, a canary, a parrot or a horse. Now, it has been proved again and again that every year SCORES OF DOGS are found astray, and the suffering many of them endure is very great. Most of this misery is due to the fact that people keep puppies because they are interesting, amusing, and loveable, and because they are pretty playmates for the children. But when license-time comes these lovable little creatures, who have learned to trust human beings, are cast adrift, to wander, weary and footsore, hungry and terrified, a prey to disease, or perhaps to be sold for a few pence to suffer the cruelties of vivisection. Dogs are dependent on mankind for their happiness and well-being; they are as sensitive to pain and neglect as we ourselves are; it is wicked to turn them adrift, and therefore, unless a good home awaits a puppy, to drown it within the first few hours of life is more merciful than to cast it on the streets to suffer. Recall to your minds the affection and fidelity of dogs, who care not how empty your purse may be, nor how worn your clothes, and ask yourself whether these beautiful animals shall be so cruelly betrayed. Everyone can help to stop this great and growing cruelty, which is wholly preventable —that of turning dogs adrift. In the course of my reading I came across a story about a lady who cherished her cats, having a few rules she always followed, with wonderfully successful results. In the first place she realised that cats, like people, need a mixed diet, and she gave Mollie Cher cat) not only a little meat every day, but some kind of vegetable. Some cats, she had found, were fond of potato; some of asparagus; some would eat cabbage, and almost every cat liked corn and beans. She was always particular to keep a dish of fresh water where the cat could get at it, for cats often are allowed, through thoughtlessness, to suffer with thirst. They need fresh water, as well as milk —just as we do. Milk cannct take the place of water. With their milk she oftens mixed rice, or oatmeal. She also carefully picked the bones out of fish, and mixed it with potato, or rice, for a change of food. Cats are sometimes seriously hurt by swallowing fish-bones. She fed her cats regularly, and they knew just when to expect their food, so were not teasing around the home. She found that they were much better hunters after rats and mice if they were kept in good condition. It is only those who are very ignorant of the cat who imagine she must be kept half-starved to be a hunter. A well-cared for cat is always the brightest and smartest cat. She never turned her cats out of doors at night, but kept a box of clean, dry earth, where they could get at it, and she had no trouble with them. A little training will make any cat neat, for cats are naturally neat, and it is only neglect that renders them otherwise. She never tied a ribbon or placed a collar around a cat’s neck, for there is always danger of their getting caught in some bush or fence, and getting serious injury. They may be starved to death, or strangled by means cf a collar. It is so hard to find good homes for kittens that this lady saved but one out of a litter of kittens, the others she drowned in a pail of luke-warm water as soon as they were born. When the water is warm it sinks the kittens at once, because it wets the fur quickly. If they are tied up in an apron they can be held down for a moment with a broom. Or another pail made heavy with being half filled with water, can be placed over the kittens as soon as they are put in the first pail, to prevent them from rising. They should be left sometime in the water. Her experience had taught her that cats have much more feeling and intelligence than many people give them credit for, and they thoroughly appreciate good treatment, as well as suffer very much from neglect. They learn to know the tone of the voice, the glance of the eye of those with whom they live, and respond to a look, and a word. They are very affectionate, and love those who are kind to them. They have great motherly affection, and it is cruel to take away all their kittens. One should be saved, and for one it is almost always possible to find a good home. I think that is very beautiful, don’t you, my dears? I know you do—and that is why I have decided to use the £1 which the ladies cf the local Band of Mercy sent, to help the Animal Welfare Week. I will give ten shillings to the winner of the best animal story sent in before this first Wednesday, and either two five-shilling prizes, or four half-crown prizes, according to the number of entries. To please me I should like you all to enter for this, my dears. It does not give you very much time, I know, but there are three days clear, without school, —Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Labour Day). Even if you had no time for this on the two week-days, I don’t think you would be doing any harm by doing such a noble work on Sunday, after church and Sunday School. So as long as they are all in by the last thing on TUESDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 27, they will not be too late. Remember you are going to please me very much, my dears, by doing this—and I make the competition open to all Cousins, with no age limit. Let us see if we cannot do a great deal towards making this Animal Welfare Week the most successful yet held. Will you do that for me, my Cousins? Very, very affectionately, COUSIN BETTY. I am still waiting for magazine suggestions, and I want all contributions in for the magazine as soon as possible. I also have to acknowledge 2/6 from Cousin Winnie Porteus, Otautau, towards the Christmas funds. —CJ3.