Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-08-02
NEW YORK DOG POUND.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PouND-How THE DOGS
ARE DESTROYED.

"pen" or "depot," as it is called, at the
foot of 25th Street, East River, is greater
than is generally supposed From the 18th
of August to, say the 1st of September, or
as soon as the authorities consider that the
hot term is at an end, the dogs are under an
edict of accommodation, or, rather, of ex-
termination. All found in the streets run
ming loose and unmuzzled are liable to be
taken TO an institution called the "Dog
Pound" This institution consists Of large
frame kennel. in which the victims are kept
twenty-four hours for identification and re-
claiming. II, at the end of that period, they
are neitherreclaimed nor otherwise disposed |
of, they are cast into huge tank, the water
let In upon them by means of q hose, and |
drowned
The destruction OF dogs seems TO be very |
cruel. In almost all civilized countries
where they overrun large cities, some mode
Is adopted for getting rid of them. In some
places they cut their throats, in others they
knock them on the head; in this country
they sufiocate them with a superfuty of
water. In all cases 1t seems TO be cruel and
hard-hearted. Hydrophobia is a terrible
dread. But the revelations OF science prove
that dogs are quite as frequently subjected
to the disease in cold as in hot weather, and
it seems rather hard to dispose of the lives
of so many domestic creatures, by the whole
sale, upon SO slight a provoeation. "What
else can we do with them2" may be asked;
but, whatever may be the best answer, it is
none the less true that any one who has wit
messed the drowning of dogs at the Dog
Pound, on any afternoon at 4 O'Clock, has
seen a narrowing and brutal sight, which he
will very probably dream of afterward.
The Pound itself is situated at the East
River foot OF Twenty Fifth Street. It is
modest looking, one.storied building of
frame, the rear portion of which overruns
the water. The "tank" where the drown
ing is effected, is in the rear OF the room,
nearest the river. The remainder of the
long room is devoted to the reception and
quartering of dogs. They are tied up to
the walls, and to railing running along
the centre of the floor, and as you pass
between the railing and the right hand wall
you are greeted by any number OF shouts,
cries and wailings-whatever language a
dumb beast can use to induce you to take
him away from the horrible place in which
he Is immured. They are mostly brought
to the Pound by boys, who get twenty five
cents q head for each luekless dog they may
bring to the shambles. Of course, every
dog that IS found running loose (the fact o
his being muzzled or not has little TO do will
the justice of his capture) is eagerly seizet
upon by ragamuffins, who take them to thI
Pound for the sake of the reward. At on'
time they gave these industrious urchln
fifty cents head, but as the number of dog
brought in and their quality proved that
great many ours were brought from TIL
country, for the purpose of selling them at
nominal price, the price was steadily lower
cred, so that now only 20 cents ls given 70
a dogs life.
The rules of the Dog Pound are in sui
stance as follows:
l. All dogs shall be brought to the Poun
which shall be found on the streets loose
unmuzzled.
H. Such dogs as are not reclaimed by the
owners at a cost of 80, OF are not sold for
equal amount, before o'clock in the atte
noon, shall be drowned.
The Pound itself is worth visiting as
matter of curiosity II lisa long, low woode
building, the rear portion of which juts ovt
the river on piles. 1t contains one room
with the tub IN the rear, and the rest OF u
apartment devoted to the dogs, with the c.
ON ception of a small partitiOned apartment
Il. 4. i atad fNff1l
mt. of the Pound. A 9ood-natured policemf
eld is generally sitting in the "office." One
He his duties is to whip or kick back any CT
ing which may have chanced to break his rop
: Of and to answer questions asked. He W
and tell YOU he doesn't know how many do
and have been killed this year, but that gre
title many have Quilted this world for the pal
ling disian bone yards and slop barrels of th
len- existence which we know not OF. He q
oia, policeman doesn't see any way of getti
the rid of the supertuity Of dogs, but he &C
knee fesses that he hates to see them drown'
ugh and, whenever the slaughter takes place,
ever assures YOU that he is out of earshot II p
sible. For the poor creatures cry and
ntf' like human beings at the last, terribly CT
scious moment, and the policeman has W
likely at some time of his life owned SO
net "Floss,n Fanny "Carlon or "Jil
IN the shape OF some tail-wagging Great
that is now no more, and he doesn't like
dying yells
Obtaining a cheerful admission from
officer in charge you pass into the Il
land room, which looks something like re
ne If walk. At the lower end of the room
placed a huge tank, with conveniences
rmly the letting in of water, and the dogs ass
bled know this as the box Of doom,
very howl accordingly.
play There are about sixty OF seventy
little ranged around the walls. They are OF
,ty to stvles. and all colors, and all breeds. A
10 his general thing, few OF the fine breeds of
said are brought to the Pound, their master
right mistresses taking very good care that t
her ? pets are perfectly muzzled, or are other
o you nerGectly free from the ''coaxings" of de
been dators. Many of the dogs you see arc
don't YOU in the Pound are worth keeping
worth buying. The majority oil them
prst.y "curs" and "hstes "-yellow, dun n
~ va and brinded beasts, which are OF no ui
mid 10 their owners or anybody else, and their
a. and TO the general society of dogs could ha
be appreciated in the world at large
there are at the same time number OF
s,or, valuable dogs, both as regards breed
6ther considerations, which are sacrl
Rs,sev upon the altar of expediency.