Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-21
Spltz Dogs.

BosroN, March s.-Spitz dogs were
under review by a legislative committee
in the Copitol during yesterday and
to-day Ia reference to the proposition
for law ordering the extinction of
this breed of canine pets in considera-
tion of their specially poisonous char
acter In yesterdays session a num-
ber Of ladies and gentlemen gave testi-
mony, many Of them certifying the
Spltz most affectionate, amiable and
harmless creature. But the subject
displayed also its sad and sombre side
as well. A Mrs. Knight, of Chelsa,
told in an affecting manner of the death
of a fifteen-year old daughter who suf-
fered all the agonies Of hydrophob;a in
its worst form. She was bitten by a
pet Spitz on Sunday and died as de
scribed on the following Tuesday. In
asmuch as the dog did not appear to be
mad, the Inference is that the Spitz
breed is likely to become poisonous
under all circumstances.
In the case Of the child Of Mr.. Alley,
of WenhaHl, who died terrible death,
the Spitz was not mad at the time. and
on Y moment before the child was
bitten, the dog had taken drink of
water. The attack of hydrophoba in
this case was not until some six weeks
after the bite.
To-day's hearing was attended by
quite a number Of ladies and gentlemen
and the door of the committee room
was guarded by fine specimen Of the
black Spitz Mr.. G, Frank King, Of
Boston, testified that he had raised half
dozen Of Spitz dogs, and that he had
been bitten By them nine times He
had never been troubled, aud he did
not consider the breed specially dan
gerous. DR. 4. Fl. Nicols gave the
opinion of medical experts relative to
rabies, and quoted from Zemssen's
practice of Medicine" The general
tenor Of his remarks was that there
was 20 evidence that Spitz dogs were
any more liable to rabies than any
other species, and that their bite was
not any more dangerous. Mr.. Rich
ards, of Boston, gave his experience
with Spitz oogs of the general tenor
that their bite was not dangerous. Mr.
G. G. Kimball, of Lawrence, had
owned five Spitz dogs at different
times since 1868 and had raised two Of
them himself. He and his wife had
both been bitten by them without any
serious results. He had a wide OBJ
sarvation of Spitz dogs and did not
consider them dangerous. Mrs. Talbot
of Boston, thought that pure Spiz
dogs should be trained differently from
other dogs, and that they should not
be exposed to the sun. She had
brought up three Of the pure Spitz
breed, and they were very much like
children, requiring as much care when
they were teething. She did not
consider them as dangerous as the
black and tan variety, and they were
the most intelligent dogs she ever knew.
She had been bitten by them but no
trouble followed.
James Joy. of South Boston, had
owned female Spitz for five years and
raised four pups. They were nervous,
sensitive dogs, and if coruered they
would bite. He thought hydrophobia
was delusion, as be had been bitten
by all kinds of dogs. He never knew
Spitz dog to go mad. He would
rather be bitten by dog than by a
horse or man. He was bitten by a
woman once, in row in North street,
and the result was very SIRE hand.
He thought that Spitz needed better
care and different treatment than other
varieties, and they needed more water
This concluded the special hearing
relative to Spitz dogs, and the commit
tee took up the various petitions rela-
tive to further protection from dogs in
general