Thoughtless Action In Timaru

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22535, 20 March 1943, Page 4

Thoughtless Action In Timaru

“My attention has been drawn to an incident, which I am informed, occurred recently in one of the reserves which is used chiefly as a playing field for children.” wrote Mr E. J. Lukey, Department of Agriculture veterinarian, in a letter to the Timaru Town Clerk. Mr E. A. Killick. "A dgo owner,” Mr Lukey continued, "after receiving arecoline hydrobromide presumably, from the registrar, dosed his dogs and then, so I am reliably informed, took them into the reserve for the medicine to act. By carrying out his good intentions to rid his faithful friends of worms, he, perhaps unthinkingly, jeopardised the children who would later play in the area. "Most people seem to overlook the two most essential points in handlins this disease. They are—First; Periodical dosing against the tapeworifr and then ensuring that the discharge; of the dog are gathered and destroyed by burning or burial, but on no account allowing them to lie about the garden or fields. "Second—but by no means least. Never feed diseased meat or raw offal to dogs. Town dogs should not be in a position to get diseased meat as all meat sold by butchers is passed by inspectors. Therefore, it is only when owners allow their dogs to wander in the country and consume dead sheep cr offal that infection would occur. Although livers, as sold by the butchers, are fit for human consumption. they come under the heading of offal and must not be fed to dogs in the raw state.

"The handling of this menace is only one of common sense and is readily prevented,” Mr Lukey concludes. "I should be pleased if you would bring this under the notice of your registrar of dogs.”