CRUELTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 June 1933, Page 4

CRUELTY.

(To the Editor). Sin-, —As I am a member of a club which subscribes to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals my attention was arrested by “Human’s” letter in your issue of yesterday. I made it my business to interview the owner of the accused Alsatians and hear what he had to say about the incident. I am a great lover of animals and went with all intent of taking action but c-ame away fully convinced that “Human” had iratlier painted an over dark case' for an innocent owner. The owner of the dogs was very concerned and full of regrets. He pointed ;out that he was riding a young horse I (for the second time) on the road and f ! -as about fifty yards behind, the dogs, s he was having difficulty in getting his hoirse across the Church Street intersection, , When, the cat ran out in front of the dogs they immediately set after it. When the owner of the dogs arrived on the scene and yelled at the dogs (which drew the Technical School pupils’ attention who were in class at the time) he again had difficulty in keeping his horse quiet and after proceeding up the road to a quiet place to leave his horse he gave both of his dogs a good thrashing. He assured me that he was powerless at the moment as his horse was causing him enough trouble and stated that he had never known them to chase cats before. I know how the owners of the cat must feel but I sincerely trust that they will not think that the owner of the Alsatians merely sat on his horse to enjoy the torture that went on. Perhaps “Human” would have chosen to have jumped off the hoirse which would have certainly bolted and perhaps andanger■ed the lives o'f several people. Now for the Alsatian: “Human” gives it as his opinion that the Alsatians are reverting, (by inbreeding, back to the wolf. 'Might I ask “Human” one question. If inbreeding was intensified to the utmost at what period would the wolf develop? My own answer is that it is impossible. 'Many people .have been given the idea that the Alsatian has been bred from the wolf but this has been proved incorrect. The Alsatian came into favour immediately after the Great War. Many soldiers who returned home were accompanied by one of these dogs as they had seen what faithful and intelligent animals they were. The wolf instinct would certainly have developed then if there was ever such a thing. I will not state the Alsatians will not worry sheep but I think that l am correct when I say' that all dogs will worry if sufficiently tempted. We had ; in New Zealand sheep worriers long .before the Alsatian entered the country. At the present time - Alsatians are becoming real good •. sheep dogs. What dog will not chase cats? (-How many terriers have bad their eyes! and noses torn by a'fetftf' Their number is legion. ; The Alsatian was given a bad name but it has proved just the opposite. They say that once an owner,-, always an owner of an Alsatian,". It would be very ungrateful to penalise every one of a particular breed fin account of one or two going astray. We ourselves would certainly have a very poor view of life if we were to suffer for our neighbour’s faults. In nearly every case , the fault of the dog is traced back to the owner. Thanking you for the space. —I am, etc., “REASONABLE.”