The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-19
An Article on Dogs.

pmharraSSmpntS and dlS3DillticS TeIliHu us
of the southern people, and this hcightens
the sympathy which we have ever felt for
that friend Of man-that type of fidelity.
The periodical alarm about "mad-dogs"
has again imposed upon the intelligent nose
of the dog the fatal muZzle the cruclest
instrument ever invented for his torture.
The principle upon which it is applied is so
like congressional reconstruction. WELLS
himself could not be more sweeping in his
prescriptions. A whole community are
called rebels, and deprived Of their rights.
And lest some dog should 60 mad, they are
all to be deprived Of the right to freedom of
breathing, and tapping, and making the
best use of that only salety-ravc for Excess
sive heat and porspiration, the tongue. If
the object was to cultivate rabies, this is the
hest way to accomplish it!
Now, it would be mercy, in comparison,
to prohibit dogs within the city altogether.
Asa protection against hydrophobia, the art
iticc is very unreliable. Dogs cannot drink
or eat until their muzZles are off. Should
they he driven mad by the great aggraya-
ton Of the muZZle, when they are freed from
it in this way they would break out and 90
on their ways to bite and spread the disease.
Then the city is surrounded by thousand
dogs which cannot be muzzled by the act Of
this corporation, and which may, in state
of madness, rush into the city and carry war
upon citizens muzzled and unmuzzed.
The expulsion of all dogs would be ration
al, while the muzzle is neither rational nor
philanthropic. 1t increases the danger it is
employed to diminish.
Dogs are power in the State. There isa
general infirmity in the human animal for
dogs. A proposition to cXpcl them would
be "voted down" overwhelmingly. Here
they have an advantage over the diSfran-
chi>cd white men. Each dog has friend
who will vote for his protection. Even the
philanthropic Congress, which assumes that
the ballot is essential to the negro for his
protection, would be compelled to admit
that it is not necessary for the protection Of
the dog, Every dog costs somebody ut least
S1l per annum: and as there may be 5000
dogs in the city, we have S55, 900 as their az
grcgatc cost, not TO include taxes and muz-
zcs. Now, this sum would 60 far to relieve
the SuflcringS of the poor. for whom the cor
poration strained itself greatly to pay some
5000 for fuel last winter. 1t would he a
most benevolent act to spend the So, 900 for
the relief of suffering people rather than
waste it upon dogs.
But this sum is panoply quite adequate
to the protection of our canine friends. \
people who will spend 80 much TO feed and
lodge dogs, not to speak of taxes, would
never concur in their expulsion from the
city, and their votes ut the polls are Il bull
work stron" enough to guard bulls and ter
ricrs and hounds and ours and whclps of
low degree. So ii would be rs wise to have
general amnesty with taxation commensl,-
rate with the dignity of the relation Of dogs
to civil society; and if it is attempted to re-
tain muzzles under "county and town Or
CARNATIONS" they should be most decidedly
"voted down." as well for humanity's sake
rs sound policy. Canine equality is fixed
fact.
The reintroduction Of mrZZlcS has subs
iccted me to modification. \ very pretty
terrier acithOu q muzzie attached itself
to me few days since. 4 dog in Il town is
not the SllreSt safeguard against trouble with
your neighborS, but the little creature was
so pretty and SO afectionatc (Which was all
affectation rs it turned OUT that / had not
the heart to drive it off. Whether the de-
monstration was creditabe to me or the dog,
did not decide: but under Il sense of duty
tod - 1lnx fal
and shared my apartment with it. 1t had
no m,lzZle, and ! was afraid some police
mans billy or bully would brain it, which
would be 4 sad fate for such pretty tho
rou.h-brcd. would take care of it, advcr-
t>c it, and retain clear conscience. Such
pretty antics rs it performed, such witchcry
of laying back ears, and smiling with it
bright eyes, fairly took me captive.
"Pll not desert thee, thou lone one," said
/. l was ready to pay the eleven dollars
annual board, tax and muZZle in advance.
it had 50 won upon me. l gave it dinner,
lodging, and breakfast after which / per-
mitted it to 90 to the door for an airing.
when it took itself off, leaving me heir to
it's ingratitudc Pcrtidious wretch It's
very last act was to leap upon me, and to
run about the room with an old inkstand in
its mouth. letting on the most affected airs
the while, which made me say, 'Dear little
crcatlTe"! Was ever tender sympathy and
solicitude so meanly requited! Was ever
"dog-kind" SO scandalized by base decep-
ton! And all this comes of the muzZle.
Iappcal to my friend soUTHALL for con-
ISOLATION which his sentimental soul know
80 well how to administer
Chief Justice CHASE having gone TO
| Charleston, UNDERWOOD publishes his dis