DOGS IN CARS ARE CLASSED AS CATTLE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 5

DOGS IN CARS ARE CLASSED AS CATTLE

COSTLY OVERSIGHT OF MOTORIST IN OPOTIKI

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, July 13. “So to Opotiki I went . . . much to my sorrow now, and to my financial loss,” writes a member of the A.A.A. who read a description of “ the scenic wonders and lovely views ” of that town but did not know the cattle tick regulations. In a letter read at a meeting of the A.A.A. the complainant retailed the history of his visit to Opotiki, and the subsequent Court prosecution and fine. His visit was the result of his reading of a description of the district in the monthly journal of the A.A.A. and he suggested that “in fairness to motoring people who take advantage of the glowing and alluring inducements held out to them by the various districts, it might be as well for them to l»e made thoroughly aware of tile pitfalls that beset the ‘ innocents abroad ’ in some districts.” The writer suggested that a small notice be inserted in the journal: Beware when passing through Opotiki of the cattle tick regulations. The small poodle dog in your car comes under the definition of cattle.” On his holiday trip to Opotiki, the writer took his small terrier dog. and while he was in the town, the animal was left in the car. After leaving Opotiki. he was stopped on the MotuGisborne Road by the inspector, who asked him if he had the dog dipped. When he said No. the inspector told him that he could either return to Opotiki, or else to the inspector’s camp, about two miles away, to have the dog sprayed. The inspector added, however, “If you like to take the risk, you can go on,” and believing that “ the risk ” lay in the dog’s getting the tick, the motorist drove on to Gisborne. In the subsequent proceedings in the Opotiki Magistrate’s Court, the motorist was fined £2, with costs, 17s, witness 12s, and solicitors’ fees £1 Is 2d. The president, Mr A. Grayson, remarked that similar trouble was experienced by sportsmen taking dogs north, and the regulations had been subsequently amended to exclude sporting dogs from the provisions of the regulations. Tt was decided to ask the Government to further amend the regulations so that they would not apply to pet dogs carried by motorists.