HC Deb 06 April 1900 vol 81 cc1406-7
MR. ORR-EWING (Ayr Burghs)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a working man named Aries, who had taken into his house a dog which had been run over in the street and had its leg broken, and who after curing the dog in five weeks found a home for it, but was fined 10s. and 2s. costs for not having a licence by the magistrate, who remarked that Aries should have turned the dog out; and whether he can see his way to recommend a modification of this sentence.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS,) Birmingham, Bordesley

The Secretary of State is informed by the magistrate that the defendant stated that he had taken the dog in with a broken leg and had refused to take out a licence because he thought it hard on him to be required to do so, and that on being pressed to take out a licence he got rid of the dog, which gave rise to the remark of the magistrate that he should have got rid of it before. The humane intention of the defendant is not disputed, but the penalty was the smallest that could reasonably be imposed, and it does not seem to be a case for advising the remission of the penalty.