The Portland daily press., 1873-07-08
Portland Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals.


This Society, having been in existence about
thize with its objects, for aid in the further and
more effectual prosecution of its work.
The society has appointed Mr.. Alonzo H.
Libby as its agent, and during the time he has
been employed the directors have been well sat
isfed with the fidelity with which he has per-
formed the duties assigned him, and the inter-
est he has manifested in the purposes of the
society.
The number of cases particularly reported
upon by him is comparatively small. They do
not by any means fairly represent the amount
Of work done or the good accomplished, and
this for the reason that only such instances are
so reported as are obviously cruel The agent
has spent several hours each of many days in
watching the treatment of horses at work on
the Boston and Maine extension, and ON the
Marginal Way. He has caused perhaps fifty
drivers to relieve their horses in vrrous cases of
hardship, if not of absolute cruelty. Early in
May he found a horse nsed for hauling stone at
the foot of High street, struggling up that steep
hill much overloaded and with back ane shout
ders raw and bleeding. Under the threat of
prOscCubtOu ny tuc aSout IL tuc duiludl WAS uOU
attended to, the owner at once relieved him and
afterwards hod the harness so arranged as not
to gall the tender surfaces, while the horse was
made to draw much lighter loads The war;
rant taken out was not prosecuted. One case
was prosecuted about this time, but it failed of
a conviction. The alleged abuse, however, was
stopped and the main object accomplished A
case of cruel beating is now pending, the per-
Narrator of The offppan bainO in hop1s tn
therfor. A driver of span of miserable old
horses was stopped on Moulton street and so
frightened by threats of arrest and prosecution
that he agreed to take the horses carefully
home and never drive them to town again
There is good reason to believe he has done as
he promised. On the 18th of June lame and
sick horse, which had been driven all
the way from Pownal, was found on
Portland street, and the owner COM
PEELED to give him proper attention. Shortly
promptly cared for The agent has now on
hand an investigation which promises to end in
the reform of an old and great abuse of animals,
the particulars of which will be given hereaf-
ter.
The sociery may with reason congratulate it.
self and the public upon the beneficial influ-
ence which it is exertng in the community. On
all sides we hear of an increased attention to
the wants of the dumb animals in our vicinity
of lighter burdens put upon them, and of fewer
cases OF cruelty of any sort. Here or there ap-
pears some hard hearted or passionate master,
who for time il-treats his beasts ;but it is safe
to assume that as long as the society makes it.
self felt as it has in the past, there cannot exiat
any systematic or long-continued abuse. The
agent is especially DESTROYS to have his atten-
ton called to any case of cruelty that may come
to the notice of members of the society or 9TH
ers; and he will take immediate and vigorous
measures to effect a remedy.
The directors have authorized Mr.. Libby to
call upon the public for subscriptions, and have
! no doubt that he will meet with a generous re-
Spouse to his appeals.
Per Order,
BENZ. KINGsBURY, JR,
President