The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-06
A LABOR OF LOVE.

Bersh's Report-The Amount Of Good Done,
and Yet to be Done-The Street Car Qnes-
ton still Unsettled.
The annual report OF the Society for the Preven-
ton Of cruelty to Animals for the year ending April
3d. 1870, recently published, makes, on the whole,
very good exhibit.
Intimately connected the operations OF this and
kindred institutions with the welfare Of the
human race 1t is NOT surprising that the subject
should have taken snch strong hold upon the
public mind, or that 1t should have attained de-
gree OF public favor seldom accorded TO any institute
ton. In teaching mankind that the brute creation
have rights which should be respected, We not only
ameorate the condition Of these lowly creatures
but sensby advance the condition Of our own race,
morally and physically. ~
The secretary Of The institution says in reply to-
those who charge that the s0cety's energies might
be more probably employed in ameltOratlDg the
condition Of the human race, that when the latter
oppressed they have the power to redress their
wrongs, but not so the brute creati0n they are the
slaves OF the former silently ministering To their
necessities and pleasures, and unable to demonstrate
against the wrongs 10 which they are subjected.
1t Is true that the officers Of the society have In
the discharge OF their duties had to encounter con-
ins o. but hy r 0 enjoy
their labor ripening with time. During the
year covered by this report 4O5 persons were ar
rested by these officers OF whom 260 were convicted,
l26 acquitted and ten complaints withdraw From
those convicted the sum VI 2177 30 was collected,
Hnes ranging III sums from 81 so to $50. Besides
the fines imposed upon these Offenders very many
OF them were imprisoned Tor from ten days TO six
months. q
The truck recently constructed by the society for
the removal OF crippled and disabled animns II
well adapted to its purpose, and has already BEEN
the means OF amelOrat1ng vast deal OF SUFFERING
among animals, especially horses. From July "a,
1862 to May l, 1870, there were removed with this
vehicle OF mercy ff.ytwO animals not permanently
disabled to places Of shelter and security, thus
cuing them from probable death The dogpound,,
Tor the purchase and slaughter Of dogs has been
closed during the season Of 1882 ana hence the
cruel and denOraizing scenes formerly witnessed iH
the streets have been suspended.
The practice Of crOwding street cars, however, SO
cruel to the poor animals dragging then and 80 dis
gushing and destructive in its effects on the public
health aud morals, still continues to defy public
sentiment, the law and every effort OF Mr. Bergh
and his associates to put stop to It, Several cases
dated In 1868 await adjudication and although the
society have failed to effect such change as Is der
sired by the community they declare they Will
continue to cause their legal influence to Der
felt every proper occasion. Their object, they
duty at once to arrest It's further continuance, and
not make themselves party thereto BY permitting
and bleeding animals to drag the cars to the
end OF the route, merely for the ''cOnvenIencen OF
the railroad company or the public. In Phiiadel-
phla In 1859, verdict OF guilty was obtained by the
society in that City against tue driver and conductor
Of one OF the Union Passenger Railway OOmpany's
for t0rturing their horses by overlooking thes
Car with passengers.
Since the treasurer's last report he has been n0tl
fed Of three legaces bequeathed to this institution,
amounting In the aggregate to 000 and that SINCE
May is, 1870 the sum OF $1,000 has been receiveu
toward the purchase OF building for the society.