Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-16
A WORTHY CAUSE.
A New Law for the Prevention OF
Cruelty 90 Animals.

As considerable interest seems manifested
in the new law for the prevention of cruelty
to animals, we present it herewith in full.
It will be remembered that in July last,
during the session of the Legislature, Mr..
Nathan K. Platshek, Secretary of the Louise
King Association of Savannah, visited At
lanta to work up new law. His efforts, as
is known, were crowned with success, and
the result was the unanimous passage of
what was called In the Legislature the
"Platshek bill" which has been acknowl-
edged by leading authority as the strongest
law on that subject in the United States,
quite compliment to the author, who is
the Youngest worker in the cause in the
world.
At the convention of the American HUI
name Association of the United States, held
at Boston, Massachusetts, in October last,
when Mr.. W. Edward Plstt, who represented
Georgia, announced the passage of this new
law, cheers were given for the State of
Georgia. The following Is the law:
AN ACT for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Animals
SECTION l. Be It enacted by the General
Assembly of the State OF Georgia, That
every person who shall set on foot, or in
stigate, or promote. or engage in, or do any
thing in furtherance of any act of cruelty to
any domestic animal, shall be guilty OF
misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be
punished by fine not to exceed one thou
sand dollars; imprisonment not to exceed
six months; to work In a chain gang on the
public works not to exceed twelve months.
ANY one or more OF these punishments may
be ordered st the discretion of the Judge.
SEC. 2 Be It further enacted, That any
person finding any domestic animal aban-
doned and not properly cared for, may apply
TO any Justice OF the Peace of the county,
who may summarily decide whether such is
abandoned, and also glandered or otherwise
diseased or injured past recovery, barring
evidence and giving notice to the owner, IL
known, whenever such notice can be given
without defeating the objects of this section,
which objects are declared to be primarily
the putting an end speedily to the suffering
of hopelessly diseased and disabled animals,
and such Justice of the Peace may, on such
hearing, authorize the destruction OF such
animal. Provided, that such authorization
shall not defeat the owners claim sgainst
the person destroying or procuring the de-
struction of such animal for any pecuniary
damage that such owner may have sustained
by such destruction.
SEC. 8 Be It further enacted, That upon
complaint on oath or affirmation to any
Magistrate, authorized by law to issue war
rants in criminal cases, that the afiant has
lust and reasonable cause to suspect that
any of the provisions of law for the pre-
vention OF cruelty to animals are being vio
lated, or are about to be violated
in any particular building or place,
such magistrate shall Immediately
issue and deliver a warrant to any one
authorized by law to make arrests in crimi-
nal cases, authorizing and requiring him to
enter and search such building or place, and
to arrest any person there present found
violating any of said laws, and TO bring
such person before the nearest or most
accessible Magistrate of competent juris-
dictiop, to be dealt with according to law.
SEC. f. Be It further enacted, That all
fines collected In any county of this State,
under the provisions of this act, shall inure
one-halt 10 the public school fund of the
county, and the other half to any society,
whose object is or shall be the prevention of
cruelty to animals, which is now or here
after may be incorporated by proper au-
tbOrity in this State, and whose officer or
sgent has prosecuted the case in which the
fine IS imposed and where the prosecutor
is some person other than such agent or
officer, then half of the fine shall be paid
into the county treasury.
SEC 5. Be it further enacted, That In this
act the word "cruelty" shall be held to in
clude every willful act, omission or neglect,
whereby uniustiffble physical pain, suffer
ing or death is caused or permitted.
SEC. 6 Be 1t further enacted, That all
laws and parts of laws IN conflict with this
act, and the act entitled an act for the pre-
vention Of cruelty to animals, approved
March l, 1875, and an act amendatory
thereof, entitled an act TO alter and amend
an act for the prevention of cruelty to
animals, approved March %, 1876, be and
the same are hereby repealed.