STRAY DOG PEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16267, 6 November 1920, Page 10

STRAY DOG PEST.

CIRCUS IN THE SQUARE. LETHAL CHAMBER NEEDED. \ Yelping clogs racing round the square, knocking against children and interfering, with traiiic, hare been a frequent sight lately. On the ground that the nuisance is, a growing one, many people urge that steps should "be taken to cope with it. They suggest:— (1) A stricter license system. (2) Ban on all stray dogs. (3) Leashes compulsory within a certain area. " There was a whole menagerie of unwholesome curs chasing each other, round the Godloy Statue this morning,” said the head of a commercial firm with unices in the Square. “ The majority ot them are probably without an owner. Surely some city official ehoulcl have power to yank them off to the destructor. it makes the place look as cheap ns the backyard of some half-way hotel in the backblocks. I saw a' huge black and brown mastiff nearly shove a pram, over tlus other day.” “ r lho pest is not confined to tlio Square, said a butcher. “Wo haves to keep a sharp look-out all day or the brutes would sweep into bur, shop like a pack of wolves. They slink off quick enough when _ chased, but they come back a jolly sight quicker, even trying to dodge in behind a customer. We have to comply with the Public Health Act in our shops. ] don’t see why the City Council should be able to shirk r Hie streets clean. Look! There’s a mongrel waiting his chance now on the other side of the street.” Looking at the business from a health point of viewj a medical man sa;d that there was evidently wowing laxity on the part of the authorities, accompanied by a complete disregard of certain rules of sanitation. ItVaai one of the worst things in any crowded area, he said, to allow dogs unlimited freedom. There were many who held that the practice was quit© enough, if not to cause an epidemic, then to rive it a good lift. In Christchurch the evil was certainly more noticeable because the square lay in the centre of the city, hut at the same time that was a reason for prompt and effective action. A good rule would be to prohibit dems being allowed within the area occupied by the lour central blocks, unless the dogs were on leashes.” What about the small size, pa.lour, ornamental dogs?” I d ban those from the country for ever.” Heavily censored, a taxi driver’s remarks were to the effect that if he had his way no dog, chained or unchained, would bo allowed in the Square or m the busy streets. He blamed stray dogs for many of the minor collisions and lor a jew of the serious smashes that occur in Christchurch every week. The greatest difficulty, he said, was experienced in turning a corner fairly sharply eo as to pull up alongside the kerb in a recognised taxi stand. Very often in the middle of the manmuvre a howling unprintable hound would rush up from the gutter and cause the motorman io make an involuntary swerve. In various other ways the dog nuisance aggiuvated the congested traffic problem of Christchurch. •' Where’s the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?” asked a professional man. “Surely it’s ns bad to leave starving dojrs/loose in our main streets as it is to overwork a liorse in Kangiora or to lame a ’possum in Akaroa. Isn t there a lethal chamber for tbo lost dog? Most of them look to be germ enrrierf, so I suppose it would U (i rr wor H l while holding a sale.” Pity the poor cyclist,” was the first comment of a suburban dewller as he lf S Vl n , ed v™ *> is dips. “As a. member of tho Wheelman's Union, unregisterC< V 5 m f wil ling to contribute towards straydogs” teni,ination of all