THE NAPLES SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I venture to ask you again to kindly insert in the Spectator an appeal on behalf of the Naples Society for the Protection of Animals. Our work is being steadily extended, inspectors having been recently stationed in Ischia, Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Cava. An attempt has been made to suppress the terribly cruel custom of conveying live lambs, calves, fowls, &c., slung on poles or carts head downwards with their feet tied together. The poor animals are carried in this way for great distances, sometimes as far as forty miles ; their legs are frequently lacerated by the cords, while they must suffer intensely from the unnatural position, as is shown by the fact that they sometimes die before reaching their destination. Horrible as this practice is, it is so rooted in the habits of the people that we have not hitherto ven- tured to interfere with it ; but, as our inspectors now have considerable.a,uthority, we are trying to put a stop to it, and since the beginning of 1898 over five thousand animals have been untied and properly conveyed. The Neapolitans are beginning to appreciate our work, and we have now freipient appeals to send inspectors to different parts. The field is vast and the promise of the harvest rich, if only we have the means to cultivate it : and I turn once more to my kind-hearted compatriots, entreating them to enable us by their generosity to carry on our work. Contributions will be gratefully received by Miss P. H. Johnston, The Beeches, Carlisle, and by Mr. Leonard T. Hawksley, 22 Piazza della Borsa, Naples, Italy.—I am, Sir, &c., E. L. M. (Princess) MEtE BARESE (nee Mackworth Praed), President of the Naples Society for the Protection of Animals.
Naples, May 17th.
Previous page
