The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-07-06
The Home Of Howline and Despair.
MORE THAN 500 DOGS REVEALING THEIR
HARD rATE--sCENEs AT THE DOC
p0IrNn-

NUM- THAN OVO DOOo DE w hALtNt lhEtH
HARD rATE--scENEs AT THE DOC
POUND.
The public home for dogs, at Six
teenth street and East river, was OPEN
cd Tuesday morning, not formally, but
very uncermoniously. The dog-catch-
ers, who with worldly wisdom had
stored in cellars, during all last week,
all immense canine supply, felt aggriev-
ed that the pound was not ready on
Monday as they expected. Not only
would the delay oblige them to hold
over large stock ready for market, but
the additional captures of Monday must
be cared for after some fashion. There
was danger, too, that the whole lot
would spoil on their hands. 1t did not
seem impossible that an attack of the
much-dreaded society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals might break
out at any moment. These fears were
not unfounded. Several choice lots
penned up in dark cellars, without food
or drink Gin one or two instances num-
bering fifty curs), were turned into the
street by Mr.. Bergh's officers. There
fore, those dog-catchers whose stock
had been spared, were at the pound
bright and early yesterday morning anx-
ious to be relieved of their victims. No
body seemed to be in very pleasant
temper. The dog-catchers were early
for the reasons mentioned, and because
the many bites and scratches received
in Mondays hunt were not altogether
enjoyable. And the keepers and the
workmen, cursed by the dog-catchers,
and hurried by Mr. Bergh's officers,
~ hn thpaotot IN lnal- thatt, ae
series to deeds of cruelty, if the pound
is not speedily finished. Graspod by
the napc of the neck, the swapping,
sprawling little beasts were transferred
not tenderly or with care, from the wa
CONS to the pound Soon each of the
two hundred and seventy kennels had
an occupant. Still they came, and pres
entity each kennel had Two occupants.
A sorry set they were. Thin and
hungry, sore-eyed and lame, they stood
with their paws on the edge of the ken
mel and howled at the visitors. All
were tied by ropes, and some of the
most desperate tried to jump over the
sides of the boxes, as If determined to
hang themselves. Those poor ours that
had been fastened to staples in the aisles
had constantly the air ofexpecting to be
kicked. Outside the building were
fresh arrivals. There were constantly
before the doors half a dozen wagons,
each with some sort of n rough coop
upon it, in which were the unhappy vic
Tins of the law. They were surrounded
by great mob of boys and men, dis
heveled women, with babes in arms,
who made up the crowd. Tho BOYS
hooted and slyly pokcd up the game !;
the dogs yelped, and the big, two-legged
brutes laughed at the sport. The howl
ing from all sides was terrific. 1t was
wore than Bedlam let loose, or than a
band of street musicians. BY noon over
four hundred dogs had been received,
and two hundred more were crying for
room.
The ordinance requiring the animals
to be kept forty-eight hours before
drowning is declared to be a nuisance
by the officers. Most of the dogs might
be disposed of directly after being re-
ceived. Generally speaking, no valua-
BILE animals found or stolen by the dog
catchers will be taken to the pound.
All such can be sold to dog fanciers or
their masters again for much more than
thirty cents head. An element of
blackmail enters Into the business, says
Mr.. Hatfield Of the Bergh Society.
Only one respectable dog was received
at the pound yesterday, and that has not
been claimed. 1t is a pretty brown
spaniel. Those pets which had been re-
deemed, seven or eight in number, were
poor specimens of Spitzes or miserable
little mongrels. Their masters and mis-
tresses must have loved them not be-
cause they were pretty, but because they
Mssi f 10 get into 4G tSSbe That IS the
man who shall bring to the pound the
especial pet of Mr.. McMahan, the keep
er. McMahan says his particular dog
was stolen from the basement of his
house on Monday, and he threatens all
sorts of vengeance in mild way If he
catches the catcher who caught that cur.
The crowd did not seem to diminish
much as the day drew to close. Dogs
still arrived and howled, the workmen
still pounded and painted, and still the
pound was unfinished. at five o'clock
five hundred and fifty ours were distri-
buted among the kennels, and nearly
two hundred more were at the door.
The keeper says he will find room for
them all i'll some way, that they must
bear it as best they may until five
o'clock Thursday morning. Then he
will put them out of their misery. Then
the iron basket will be filed and swung
out into the river. Six minutes under
water will finish the contents. Mr..
Bcrgh's officers will be on the ground
on Thursday. Yesterday they made no
arrests. Fettercr, the dog-catching
broker whom they seized on Monday,