Destruction of dog Horrie – smuggled into Australia by returning soldier

This is a letter from the NSW Animal quarantine division, informing the Division of Veterinary Hygiene about the destruction of a dog named Horrie – who was smuggled into Australia by returning Australian Imperial Force soldier, Mr James Bell Moody.

Transcript

[Page 1]

[Stamped in top right corner:] 16 MAR Rec'd

[Letterhead in black ink for 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.', 'ANIMAL QUARANTINE SERVICE.', 'NEW SOUTH WALES DIVISION.']

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

FARRER PLACE.

SYDNEY. 14^th March, 1945.

IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE

A.I. 44/1524.

[Addressed to] Director-General of Health,

Division of Veterinary Hygiene,

Department of Health,

CANBERRA. A.C.T. [underlined]

[Heading:] SUBJECT: [underlined] Illegal Entry of Dog – J.B.Moody.

[dividing line]

This is to advise that a dog known as "Horrie the Wog" was destroyed at 4 p.m. on the 12^th February [crossed out, handwritten in border: March], 1945. Following a receipt of a telegram reading-" Authority given for destruction of dog seized under Section 68 Quarantine Act".

A seizure form was issued to the owner, a copy of which is enclosed as required. Further to the communication of the 6^th instant, Mr.J. Moody brought the dog to this Department on the 9^th instant. The dog was conveyed to Abbotsford Quarantine Station and a statement was made before Mr. E. A. Stevens of the Commonwealth Investigation Branch. The statement is :-

"Mr. James Bell Moody, 28 Silver Street, St. Peters, state: That on April, 1st, 1942 the dog in question was smuggled into Australia by myself in my pack. I was then a member of the s/l Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd A.I.F. returning to Australia from an operational area. There was no one in authority aware of this episode. On arrival in Melbourne the dog remained for a period of two and three quarter years at the home of my father 28 Meadow Street, East St. Kilda. My father was under the impression that the dog had been quarantined in Adelaide before I brought him home after my discharge from the Army of February 5^th, 1945. I brought the dog from Melbourne to Sydney by rail. I am holding the Health Certificate from the Stock Inspector in Melbourne. An article was published about the dog in the Sydney "Sun" on 12^th February. About a week later I was given a telephone number and told to communicate with a Mr. Stevens of this address. I contacted Mr. Stevens who took me to the Animal Quarantine Department where I contacted a Mr. King. I was asked to produce the dog in question and promised to do so on the 9^th March, 1945, which has already been done.

/ This...

[Annotated at the bottom of the page. Handwritten 'Rec'd' [received] and stamped 'MAR 16 1945'.]

[Page 2]

statement has been read over to me and to the best of my knowledge I believe to be true.

[Handwritten signature: Max Henry]

Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals) [underlined]

Related records

Record

Department of Health authority to quarantine dog 'Horrie'

This form, which authorises the seizure of a dog, was issued under the Quarantine Act 1908 of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Related themes

Theme

A camel train including three camels being led by a mounted rider.

Animals

Australia’s unique native animals are a result of geographic isolation. Discover records about the native and introduced animals that call Australia home and our relationships with them.

Theme

Newspaper illustration of precautions against Spanish Influenza.

Epidemics and quarantine

Australia’s geographic isolation and strict quarantine laws help guard against diseases. Epidemics, including influenza and the bubonic plague, have taught us important lessons about managing disease.

Theme

Bomb disposal squad of 6 men standing around a bomb crater, near a shed and a danger live bomb sign.

Second World War

Almost a million Australians served during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. Australia’s proximity to the war in the Pacific forced us to question our relationships with the rest of the world.