To the Editor of the "Nonru-CHiNA Dany NEWS"
Sm,—Reliable information has been received by the S.S.P.C.A, that an organized gang of dog thieves are stealing good dogs and shipping them to Hongkong for sale. The names of the principals are known, but up to now we have not been able to catch them in the act, Our. informant is afraid to give evidence in Court, but has furnished us with the method employed. Coolies are sent at night to a residence where a good dog is kept and a hole is cut in the bamboo fence or dug under the wal. The dog is then enticed ouf, by various means, either at night or early in the morning when the house coolie allows the dog to run in the garden. When the dog appears in the aperture a neeze at the end of a pole is around its neck and the animal is dragged out and taken to the home of one of the coolies. The dog is then crated and placed on board a sampan or small cargo-boat and the crate hoisted on board a coasting vessel about half an hour before its departure for Hongkong. Of course, one or more, of the Chinese on board the ship are in league with the thieves.
The shipping companies are giving us full ce-operation, A fine cocker spaniel which was found in a chicken coop of one of the steamers on the Hongkong run after the vessel left Shanghai was brought back and handed over to the Society by the chief officer, as it had been smuggled on board and there were strong suspicions that it had been stolen. "The man who called for the dog at Hongkong had a Hongkong Goverment permit to import an Alsatian. The SSP.C.A. is now trying to find out from whom the dog was stolen.
Dog owners are requested to instruct their coolies to make sure that there are no holes in the garden fence or under the wall before their dogs are allowed out in the morning. A wise precaution is to keep the garden gate bolted and to have a bell installed, as dog thieves are also prowling around during the day.
Epwaro POSKITT, Secretary, SS.P.C.A.
Shanghai, Feb. 15.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.