The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 66

Inspector's Report

Inspector's Report.

To E. Quick, Esq., Hon. Secretary, Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Sir,—In placing before you a report of the work done by the Inspector of the above Society for the twelve months ending 30th June, 1886, the following statement will exhibit the nature of the offences, the proceedings taken, and the results:—

131 cases were investigated by the Society's Inspector.
15 persons were prosecuted.
14 persons were convicted and fined.
1 person discharged.
7 horses, suffering in consequence of being completely worn out, were destroyed at the request of the Inspector.
6 dogs, suffering from mange, and otherwise incurable, were destroyed by the Inspector.

74 persons were cautioned for various offences as under :—

For working horses with open sores under the harness	13
For working horses when lame	12
For working horses in a weak condition	5
For working horses otherwise unfit for work	3
For cruelly beating and ill-treating horses	17
For overloading or overdriving horses	2
For keeping horses without a sufficient supply of food and water	4
For having overstocked cows at sale-yards	1
For ill-treating cattle and young calves	5
For ill-treating sheep and lambs	2
For overcrowding and improperly carrying fowls and geese	9
For keeping fowls without sufficient food and water	1
Total	74

Out of a number of cases reported by the public to the Secretary, and investigated by the the Inspector, 29 were not considered cruelty.

In cases where children have been reported for committing acts of cruelty the Committee have deemed it advisable to request their parents to punish them, several cases have been disposed of in this way with good effect.

The Inspector has visited Oamaru, Palmerston, Waitati, Port Chalmers, Mosgiel, Outram, Waihola, Milton, Lawrence, &c., besides paying frequent visits to the cattle yards, and all the suburbs of Dunedin. Mr. Reid, your Honorary Solicitor at Milton, prosecuted in one case, and the defendant was fined £16 5s., including costs and damages, for ill-treating a number of sheep by keeping them penned up in the heat of the summer for a number of days without food or water.

Very valuable professional assistance has been afforded to your Inspector from time to time by the Society's Honorary Solicitors and Veterinary Surgeons, who are always most ready to advise him upon all points requiring their special knowledge:

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