Cruelty to Animals.

It seems to me that the prevention of cruelty to animals, is as a work, still in its infancy. Horses, sheep, and cattle are still far more cruelly treated than there is any need for. Sheep are being shorn now. Can anyone deny that a very great measure of cruelty might be saved in this work? How many useless cuts are given, how many kicks? How many knocks through rough yards, and still rougher yarding? How many bites from dogs? How much starvation from insufficient infield accommodation? How much rough usage through improper lifting? In winter how often are they not starved? How often are parasites allowed to live on them at home; and at ease—but not for the poor sheep? How much pain from disease is suffered by them? How long do hoofs go uncut? How many rotten ones go uncared for? How many double fleeces come in each year, which the way-worn carrier sweats under? How many horns grow into page 179 the head, causing great pain? How many bites and tears do they get from that profoundly wise animal, the shepherd's dog? How often does the young lamb lose its mother, and die miserably of starvation? How often does over-stocking exist, and misery and poverty rule the day and the night? That a vast amount of pain is existent in the flocks of the Colony, and which affect heavily millions of sheep, is undoubted, and it is also undoubted that a great part of it could be saved. Ah! but to look so carefully after sheep won't pay. Are you sure of that, my friend? Providence, you should note, has a great many forces at his command, which he can retain or let go as he pleases, and which may punish the inhumane. Had the country not been so terribly over-stocked as it was just before the rabbit asserted himself, and had cruelty and misery been less abounding, that plague might have been stayed. Besides, even if money is made on pain more rapidly, are you sure that it will remain with you and your children as steadily as if it had come on a smoother road? It may take wings some fine morning and depart to a kindlier owner.

Cattle are also often, no doubt, treated very cruelly. It is doubtful if it pays to let them remain out in the winter as many do. Much unnecessary pain is also caused in the stock-yard and at milking. A great deal could be said about having better- page 180 appointed saleyards, especially in the smaller towns. They should always be paved, and might be roofed over also. In the moving of live stock of all kinds, whether by road or rail, it is an admitted fact that a great and unnecessary amount of pain is caused to the animals.

As to horses, no end of words might be spoken to show forth their calamities; bad housing, bad shoeing, bad driving, bad harnessing, bad everything.