Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-17
John Paul on Dogs.

For the allaying of the popular appre-
hensiOn, lpurpose starting a company Tor
insuring against death by dogs. The
premiums will be ridiculously small; no
questions will be asked of the applicant,
and the dividends will be larger, If the
public will but patronize it, than ever
any insurance company paid before.
Two years ago l was the unhappy pos
SCISSOR of greyhound long and sharp of
nose like all long and sharp-nosed peo-
pie, he was cross and uncertain in temper.
One morning he didn't feel very well,
and went off and lay down in his corner.
Not then having learned that dog by
any possibility could object to being
played with, even when sleepy and in
disposed, followed him up and rubbed
heads with him, Notwithstanding that he
gave me several warning growls. He
grabbed me by the ear and drew blood
in several places. No excitement about
mad dogs existed at that time, but there
was an immediate commotion in the
family. AS the first step, it was insisted
that / kill the dog. This / did not do,
because if he were mad WANTED to know
it. | did not even whip him, for | thought
then, and think now, that the dog did per
feetly right. Dogs and wives do not pass
the bounds of reasonable requirements
when they ask to be let alone occasion
ally, and if they bit their masters ofteneT
and more savagely they would be re
spected more, and their wishes would be
considered worthy of consultation once
| in while.
| On this occasion was cruel to Mrs. Paul
and for the first time in my life refused
to do as she wished me. She begged thai
| would send for the doctor at once anc
have my ear cut off, declaring that if
did not she should not have moment!
peace. Arbitrarily, perhaps brutally,
declined to crafty her. In consequence
lave not yet had the bliss of KNOWN!
what it is to bound gayly through lift
with a leather ear. II may be that tht
experience is still destined to be mine
however, for since this mad-dog excite
ment reached its present height Mrs. Pau
frequently asks me if feel no symptoms
| cannot scratch the back of my heat
without her placing bucket of waite
before me to see if | show signs of bolt
ing, and she often advances a skirmish
line of questions the drift of which is t
know if | do not think that | could hea
all the good that is said of me and a
much of sermons as | care to if | ha
only one ear 1t may be that | will hav
to lay both of them down on the altar {
domestic peace before we've done wit
it.
Now, another word and I've done A
for the killing of animals, have no ser
timental objections on that score. Ii
deed, never see horse staggering III
der twice the burden that should be pU
: upon him that l would not lik
J to step mercifully up, and, Will
: patted him gently with on
| ind I'm
let through his head with the other. TIL
2 would relieve the poor animal from a
5 Injustice and misery, and perhaps h
g owner, ascertaining how inconvenient
: was to drag his own dray around, migl
; use his next horse decently, if ever
) owned one again. The poor dogs tn;
D roam the streets, hungry and homeless,
a would kill in the most painless way po
Y sible; get them all together, give them {
I full meal as they could eat, and dismi
e them beyond the reach of pain. Nor
G any dog ill-treated by his master woul
D provide for in the same merciful fashio
a And so with cats and all other animal
D for see no other way out of the difficult
5 no other means of getting rid of Il
S shocking scenes of cruelty we every da
S witness, and, what is equally bad, v
e know are going on every day around u
: whether we see them or not. lnterfe
: ence for the moment does no good. Re
= rimand the brute who is beating an owe
e loaded horse or abusing dog in Il
street, and we know that when he ge
the poor horse into his stable or the dc
into a cellar, he will revenge himse
upon us through them. The mission
the Society for the Prevention of Cruel
L to Animals should be extended; it stol
!. too short of a proper result. 1t shou
5 be empowered to seize and tenderly ar
r kindly kill all homeless and ill-used al
h mails of all kinds-even cats,-Nelc 70
: Tribune.