1860 Dog Bill

(part) 868 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES, SEPTEMBER 18, 1860.

Second Reading

The CHIEF SECRETARY moved the second reading of a Bill intituled an Act to repeal an Act No. 5, of 1852, intituled, "An Act for abating the nuisance and damage to property occasioned by the great number of dogs which are loose in the province of South Australia, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof." It would be seen that this was not the first time the Legislature had been called upon to take steps to abate the nuisances arising from the vast number of dogs which were allowed to run loose throughout the province, and that a somewhat similar measure had been passed in 1852. This Act had, however, become almost a dead letter, in consequence of there being no penalty inflicted upon dogs that were not registered; and the onus of killing such animals devolved upon no one in particular. Of course before a dog would be killed, it was necessary to adopt the instruction of Mrs. Glass, "Catch your hare before you kill it"—and in the first place you had to catch it, and however singular it might appear, dogs had somewhat of an aversion to being caught especially when they had any suspicion of the design of the parties who were trying to catch them. (Laughter.) When caught, also, another difficulty arose. Dogs did not bear their captivity with the most lamb-like patience—(laughter)—and they were frequently so restive under the...