The Portland daily press., 1894-04-05
PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.
Annual Meeting of the Maine State Society
Held Yesterday.

Held Yesterday.
The annual meeting of the Maine
State Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, was held yesterday
in this city, the President, Hon. Stanley
I. Pulien, in the chair.
Agent Perry's Report,
Agent EN-. Perry submitted his report,
which showed the following work done
during the year ending March 3lst:
Cases investigated, $50; animals in
volved (not including cattle carried on
the various transportation lines) 1850;
cases prosecuted @; cases convicted, S;
cases acquitted, L; cases remedled with
out prosecution, 672; mum Der OF animals
not properly cared for (this includes lack
of shelter, food, etc. 812: number of
animals unfit for work, 81; number of
animals abandoned, Z; number of ami
mails destroyed, 60; number of animals
beaten or whipped, 20; number OF ami
mails overclriven, 8; number of animals
overloaded. 80; number of animals
driven CALLED or lame. So: general
cruelty, Overlooking. ETC., 81
Secretary's Report.
The secretary's report was then read
and adopted. 1t is as follows:
To the Maine State Society for the
Protection of Animals:
The work of this society during the
past year, has clearly demonstrated the
fact that there is growing public senti-
ment throughout our state in favor OF
greater effort for the protection of ami
mails.
The calls upon us for advice and as
sistance, outside the city of Portland are
steadily increasing, and humane people
in many sections of the state are awak-
ing to the fact that it is both their legal
right and their moral duty to protect
dumb animals from the neglect or abuse
of though tless or cruel owners.
The growth of this sentiment is due,
in great degree, doubtless, to the ac-
tive, personal interest taken in the work
by the member of this society and, also,
to the humane literature which 1t causes
to be sent out.
In addition to the other literature sent
out during the year. and in order that.
at least, one officer in each town snall
be clearly informed as to his duty IN all
cases of cruelty coming to his knowl-
edge, the society has caused copy oil
our report to be sent to an ofhcer IN
every town in the state, together with
circular calling his attention to- the
statutes governing such cases, which
port.
While the situation in the state at
large affords so much encouragement
the results in the city of Portland are
still more gatifying. Here, the cases
brought to the attention of the society
during the year, are less in mum Der and
in the degree of cruelty than in former
years.
The decrease in the number of prosecu-
lions is pleasing feature of the present
condition since it indicates not only
growing recognition of the authority OF
the society to act, but a certainty that it
will act in all cases of cruelty and will
see that the statutory provisions are en-
forced. This certainty has caused the
suggestions OF our agents to be more
readily adopted aud thus fewer prosecu-
tions have been necessary. The transpor-
tation of animals, both by railways and
by ocean steamers, mas been carefully
watched and while it is nearly 1mpossl-
BILE to avoid individual cases of cruelty,
where large numbe of animals are
confined together, yet much has been
done to improve the conditions essential
to their safety and comfort.
1t should be noted here, that the man
ayers of transportation lines, in our
state, appear to be more willing to adopt
and abide by such regulations as are
deemed necessary in the shipment of
stock, than are the shippers themselves.
These latter have. in several instances,
been. brought before the courts and the
punishments received by them have
borne good fruit in preventing the COM
mission of similar offenses.
Our Investigations in the matter OF
transportation have also enabled US to
call attention of our sister society of
Massachusetts to some of the violations
committed at the destination of the ship
ments, and we have been assured that
they had received suitable attention.
The care of sheep kept on the islands
along the coast has also received con-
sideration and attention. Our agent,
Mr.. Perry, has visited several of the
islans and coast towns, obtaining there
by'such knowledge as was. believed to be
necessary to full and correct under
standing of the case. At his suggestion
an additional food supply has been kept
on the islands, and under the supervis-
ion of our agent at Millbridge, addition
al shelters have been provided.
The extension of'our work to sections
of the state more distant from the home
Office has drawn heavily on our pecuni-
airy resources during the past year, and
the attention of your directors and
officers is frequently called to cases in
which additional funds would much ex-
tend and perfect our usefulness.
We can assure all who are interested in
our cause that any contributions will
bear immediate fruit in a goodly in
crease of our work. The income which
was sufficient, when our labors were
confined largely to Portland and its
vicinity becomes inadequate for the best
cultivation of the larger field which is
open before US.