The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
AMONG THE DOGS.
Scenes at the New York Dog Pound as
Told by N Reporter.


An extraordinary and pitiab1e, though
at the same time ludicrous scene, pre-
sents itself to the notice of the observ-
er. More than 300 dogs are chained to
the flooring of long, tolerably broad,
room, care being exercised to leave
passageway for the attendants, and for
visitors who come to rescue their favor
ties. For two days the strong arm of
Municipal law detains the unmuzzled
Tray caught wandering in the streets.
During that time the owner may re-
claim him and take him away on pay
ment of three dollars. At the first sur
vey the eye, in its glancing sees moth
ing but ours, the great majority of
which are quito young puppies, born
the present year. Some are playing,
some are bowling, some are sleeping.
But, walking down the aisle, a more
careful view shows that there are quite
number of dogs of race, of genteel
animals, so to speak, among the hun
dreds. And here one notices a re-
markable thing. Almost all the street
dogs choose chum from among those
around him, and the two play together
and sleep side by side in the most
friendly way. They are SO tethered
that any one dog could make friends
with at least half a dozen, but there is
manifest selection. Now, the pets
will not make friends, but hold off on
their dignity. The writer notices an
unhappy Skye terrier with head and
body like q mop, who stands mp and
barks with anger, and snaps at all the
other dogs near him.
Not far off is noble old watch dog,
a great creature, beautiful in his
ugliness, with a strong look of the
mastiff about him. His friend did not
like to put muzzle on the fine old fell
low, knowing how ridiculous and rea-
sonless such procedure was. He has
been caught taking a nap somewhere,
and has walked to find string round
his neck and big loafer choking him
by dragging him along the pavement.
He is all right, however. He has been
money, and take him according to the
regulation If his friends do not claim
him during forty y-eight hours. He
passes all the time in sleeping or observ-
ing silently the company he is in. This
he does with his head down between
his outstretched forepaws, his eyes
glancing fiercely from side to side. Let
him out and give him five minutes with
the greasy tramp who kidnapped him,
and there would be a job for one of the
Coroner's assistants.
Not far from the door is a pitiful
case. 1t is fine Spitz dog, who is suf-
fering from some disease, and his
friends gave man fifty cents to bring
him here. They think it may be hydro
phobia. Perhaps it is. It is dreadful
to see that dog fighting against his
malady. Hei trembling fearfully, and
has spasmodic motion of the ribs.
He endeavors to stand erect, but can.
not, and falls back with piteous look
of mute anguish. He has never barked
nor howled, but from the moment he
was brought here has been fighting with
his malady. He has become dreadfully
thin, and looks in his emaciation like a
famished Arctic wolf. His friends evil
IDENTIFY sent him here that he might be
killed in merciful way and suffer no
pain. The dogs around him know that
he is in anguish, and occasionally lick
him and he looks at them so intelli-
gently, so gratefully, that one can I'M
derstand how great pet he must have
been at home. He can neither eat nor
drink. When the pals of water and
of soaked bread are passed around, he
does not look at them, but perseveres
in his ceaseless endeavors to get up.
He seems to have dim belief that il
he could once stand he would be all
right. and would be permitted to &c
home.
What dreadful howl that little poo.
die does make. He is also a pet, but
he has been sent here for biting one oi
the household. After the two days have
expired, if he has shown no symptoms
of rabies, he will be consigned to the
care OF livery. stable man. Such were
the orders of his owners. This will be
lesson to him to moderate his little
temper. He is very intelligent little
beast, and comprehends that all is not
we'll. Close to him is Scotch terrier
a very gentlemanly dog, who is evident
ly annoyed at the bowling OF the poo
Gle, which he considers ill-bred. He il
lying all his length along the floor
meditating. He takes the water offer
ed him gratefully enough, but refuses
the food with disdainful sniff. Some
body will take him, even if his friends
do not claim him. There is an old Irish
man, master, one would think, of pei
nut stand, who is in want of a goot
dog to drive away the bad boys. H,
has already expressed his opinion to the
writer that the dogs are all ours
"Shure there isn't rale good, bloodet
wan, among the whole lot" But h
changes his mind when he sees this
Scotch terrier, and makes whistling ad
vances of amity, to which the dog does
not in the least respond. Now pride
will have fall, if master does not com,
to the rescue, and this scornful dog
will have to eat very dirty puddings.
Up in the remote corner are the sluts
Among them is O miserable cur, no
larger than a puppy herself, who ha
yeaned and brought forth upon tn
hard planks two wretched little thing
not half the size OF rats. Only think O
the brute who had no compassion upol
her trouble, and dragged her here fo
the sum of fifty cents (! 1t is horribl
to see her licking her unfortunate lit
ter, and sucking them as best she may
looking up into the face of every on
! who approaches her with timid glanc
: OF depreciation, like the mute appeal O
) real beggar asking pity for Christ
' sake with his eyes only. She is mos
Z lamentable specimen of cur there
/ neither strength nor comeliness, no
race about her, and her pups are prot
ably as worthless as herself. One car
not see them, for she hides them wit
her paws, her motherhood giving he
2 some prophetic sense of danger. Wi
Z che he tanked . The official is nor