Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-01
The Board Of Health and the Dog
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WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT 1T?
At meeting Of the Board Of Health last
night arrangements we're made for q sanitary
writ TO the Treasury department to-day.
The health officers report was read for the
week ending March 18th, showing 4r3 nuisapces
sbated and "A dead animals removed Marine
products inspected-17, 351 punches of fish,
l3, 500 shad 40 500 herring, and $50 bushels of
oysters. Condemnations-351 punches of fish,
l25 bushels Of oysters, 1O2 pounds of beef, s of
veal, l95 OF pork, Il OF mutton, live calf, be-
sides a number of chickens and prairie hens.
Animals impounded, s.
Health officer Keene stated that he had
addressed a letter To the surveyor in relation to
q survey of q vacant lot fer the purpose OF esti-
mating the cost Of filing II up, and had re-
ceired reply in which that officer desired to
know who was TO pay him his legal fees. After
debate the matter as referred to the commit
tee on ordinances. Premises No. 1912 4th strest
were declared to be a nuisance.
ton and remarked that complaints were con-
tinuslly reaching them about the large number
Of worthless ours roaming at large.
Mr.. LapgstoD, from the com mittee to whom
the subject had been referred, reported that
should the board concur, he would So bmit for
consideration first, that the ordinance to pre-
vent domestic animals from running at large
within the cities of Washington and George
town, passed April "a, 1873, be amended as fol-
lows: insert in the 9Th section after the word
"hOg," and before the words "one dollar" the
word DOG" making the clause to read "a fol-
lows; And for each sheep, goat, hog, and dog,
one dollar" That section IL of an ordinance TO
declare what shall be deemed nuissnces inja-
nous 70 health, &c, passed May Is, 1871, be
amended by striking out the words "June" and
September wherever the same NAV occur,
and insert the words May and October" as
the limits TO the time when they shall be pro-
hiblttd from running at large unmuzzied. lie
said the dog question had rot been overlooked
by the BOARD when the existing ordinances had
been framed, and the action taken at that time
was decided to be the best that cOuld be hit
upon, but as subsequent experience had shown
the oog grievance to be unbearabie he would
~ 20 nab n
the evil.
Mr.. Msrbury remarked that the District was
overrun with dogs, in conseq lence of the de-
fective laws on the subject, and he thought the
whole difficulty might be remedied without SO
much circumlOcution, by simple resolution
which could be published for the guidance of
dog owners.
DIR. Verdi said the old law should be amended
so as TO make it unlawful for dogs to run at
large during any portion Of the year, unmuz-
zied. Inc poundmaster would have nice time
OF II rushing about after the dogs; il would be a
difficult matter to tell whether dog was un-
accompanied by his master-his master might
be several squares away, and yet the dog might
not be considered as running at large. Dogs
will escape through gates and run away, es-
pecislly at certain seasons Of the year. and they
don't seem to mind how far they run, provided
they make their point. He saw much trou BILE
ahead in this matter. Dogs were a great pro-
lection and comfort to householder, and he
sympathized with the dogs.
Mr.. Marbury could not agree with DIR. Verdi;
they are very dangerous, especially those kept
by the butchers. These are generally OF the
bull-terTier breed, and as fierce as lions. 1t Is
a great risk to meet them on the street. aud
there should be something done to rid the com
munity Of them, as they are As much or greater
nuisances than geese or pigs. Some of the
newspapers advocate a war on the cats. He
did not agree with them Cats do not bark aud
bite nor produce hydrOphOSia.
DIR. Bliss thought IL not necessary TO declare
the Gogs nuisabces as all that is necessary is to
say by ordinance that they are domestic ami
mails, and regulate the time of their running AZ
large. If declared nuisances and their abate-
ment ordered, II would require the services of
at least twenty-five men TO rid the CITY OF them.
Are they in a condition TO incur this expense?
He thought not. He was in favor of excludiny
dogs from the streets two months longer each
year-fTom the 18th OF May TO the 18th of Octo-
Der. He moved 10 recommit the whole matter
to the committee, with Instructions to frame
the proper ordinance.
DR.. Verdi said dogs are hard things to man.
age; IL Is a debatabe question as to the pSrtic-
ulsr season of the year when they are )st
dangerous; the fact Is they are just as liable to
run mad in the cool season as tn. warm-there-
fore II they are TO extend the time, let il be for
the whole year. There was no danger from
muZz!ed dogs at any season, now let the law be
so amended that they shall be muZzled at ali
seasons when on the street on penalty of i'm.
poundment and 81 for release, same az in cases
of dogs, goats or sheep. He suggested that the
whole subject be referred back to the ordinance
committee, with instructions to take this into
consideration.
DIR. Cox thought the suggestion of Dr. Verdi
about muZZling good one and the most pracri-
cal mode of dealing with the case.
The matter was recommtted.
Dr. Verdi submitted a resolution instructing
the health officer to report to the board the gem
eral sanitary condition of streets, alleys, vacant
places, &c. and whether Accommodations OF garb-
age, animal or vegetable matter exist in a man
ner to threaten the health of the city. Adopted.