The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-29
DOG CATCHING EXPERIENCE.
THE TRIBUL rTONs or MR.. THOMAS ).
BfRMTvGHIM
One OF the Most Successful ofthe Downtown
Dog Hnrv stcrS why the Women Dislike
Him -uniicensed Dogs and Pcriury.

One or the Most successful "fthe Downtown
Dog Hnrv stcrS why the Women Dislike
Him Jniicensed Dogs and PERJURY.
Mr.. Thomas J. Birmingham. official dog
catcher Of the Seventh and Thirteenth Wards.
had Just returned from successful morning
expedition, and was eating musk melon in
n grocery at Pike street and East Broad-
way. He il accounted one Of the best dog
officers in the city. On his face are several
scars. and on his hands are many more. boar
ing witness Of his devotion e. his pursuit He
said after he had taken his mouth from the in
side If a melon rind:
d" ! want to be set right bcfor" the public. and
that they may cxnrty understand my position.
have been accused by the press Of cruelty IN
catching dogs. and have been abused and IN
suited hy the people. To rofuto an thls IT would
be- enough to simply say that have taken in
nearly 900 dogs since | won't into the business.
and have received only twelve or fourteen bit =.
II had been cruel with them wouldn't I have
got bitten more than tlnf Be-idcs these 900
dogs that / took safely to the pound. there are
$50 that escaped from me after | first ~ hold 81
them. II had not lost them. | should have had
over 900 dogs to my credit In the pound. We
get 30 cents apiece for every dog We bring. and
you can see tina, the loss Of $50 ours is some
thing of an item
My wav Of doing the business il thus:
that is driven 10y an assistant. This truck viii
hold 100 dogs comfortably. when first start
cd out in the business had poor old wagon
that would hold not moro than thirty or ipriy
animals. and | had great deal Of bother IA
storing my captures. | hired rclarW Pikr
and Division streets. and a. soon a- got my
cart full dumped III" docs IN that Ia 90 and
started after another ond. But now am saved
pll this trouble, for az soon az have iIl'd my
big truck have nHmlmr lHrge 'nou-n To 80
straight to the uound with them.
' make two or three trips day. lot riyas-
sistani drive the tru'k slowly aiun- the streets
while 70 about blg'k IN vdvan ". ami aii'rl
have captured a dog hold him until iNr ';on
comes up, and then with thu aid of my mnu i,,s
h. h f lex "a: AZ no-i tn hi RS o iGli 70
W bohind him and clap my two hands 4, thc
dogs cars. and then nine times out uf ten la.s
him. As I,hod him M the ~eiu of hls 'Yw.s
slips over his mouth So mat %, IAN !Uul' ~
QUERY. II he One set upn sell -h.uld have
all the people wtuiu bloch uut .Il sl 'utins.
On you dog thni, you're NICE lr ~, Look
sometimes yet hold of "a do... go big or saw
age that can't hold HIM. an D ia that c.l-- put
the lasso 10 him. The lp-so j. simply stout
The other end uas~'s through tlr rin<. making
a slip-nOOs that no do. cam -et rid Of cor break.
have got him 10y the cars thi have a. dropon
my knees and hold his body between INV les
until my u-Sisinnt can come up anu hcip mr.
MY method OF dog cat hing ha- worked spl"u-
ddly 50 inr. and am %" boss down town.
There's only ON" ON rr b"ii'r ~ un up town
district who has ctufhi more dogs uNn !. Tie
has taken IN LOO animals. aui bee is the up
own boss,
one serious dini ulty with any on' That was
with Mrs. Fleming Of li3 East broadway. WI.
arrested and put under hnil for taxing IN one of
her four SpiN dogs. You sec. she know me.
and every time pnssrd tn house ~" u-rd to
revilc aud abuse me Three OF her dogs wer"
Teens "a and on wis mo-. one morning -aw
the unlicensed uuiiunl lNing on "a neishiurinE
STOOD and CAPTURED HIM. Then There was Il
great upfour. AL thc women came after mo.
aud think that d any ono Vas assaulted AMI
battered II wn- me-. gut "a" dos 10 the pound.
lI
Then she went t0 u " court AMI swore TINT The
dog had been licensed "a month. caught tu"
Suit ON Aug 3. and a." books down town show
that sh" took out the 'is"h~" on Aug. &. If IN.
presses her suit charging me- with assault ami
battery | shall bring forward plenty oi wi
nesseS 10 prove her guilt, of perjury. simply
grabbed the dog. Tn. women grabbed mo. and
"1i 6ny w Dn, ~ Of a. Ircbs ir ann 'n nr
sons ~ this woman. ~ tN YOU how y works.
suppose You have an unlicensed dog. lor nat
possible, 80 It's To- avoid the cu'hrr We'll
come alonG som morning when YOU mink the
dog ~ SAT-. AMI lnd him IN the street; tax"
him away. aud You Go At once ami take out "a
hcenrc ami then 20 10 court ana swear that h"
hn- been licensed Tor a month That's how II
The first time got BIT" Mr., Birminsham
IN, dogs in q Pike street cellar. went down
among them one night. and ono oi them sprang
Ut aud h.i me- M inc hand. That w,lS cary m
July. Again sot a do- niir. thr,rin Bees long.
dos nj IA" same time II WAS IRON, A savage
great :. amt very painful
Don't you trri any tear on account % these
bite ne r. I9rcr inquired.
eur! ON Lord hp. hni SHADOW Just
su'k "a" wound and then cautor.@- II. Then
HH.rc IS II spit1 dog latc." Mr.. Birmingham
added. rolling M his Sleeve and showing 70
half hrulrd .uurrHi wound. . don't lux" IL
much. but ] don't fear any bad r.-uit-. just
look at my hands and -er thr marks ono, two
three. four. five. six. seven bit :. amt any num-
Der On TIN tiI- of my fingers. BuiI don't count
tho wounds unless ih"y l"ayr ar. H"rr'~ ono
don't like the took Of You srr 10 books rcd
and glossy. It was one Of the INST got. and 1t
Ny lan Of work 20 20 out NJ in the even
ing ana work iiil O'Clock the n"N morning
Then taAe bed ON p collar door or ON the
sidewalk until o'clock. TAcn work again
You'd b.. surprised but every dog in those
wards knows me-, aud some ~ them. those ihui
are licensed. put on airs and com" ont into IA"
street and lfowl and hnrk at me-. Those TINT
have no li"rnsn give "A -nnrl and stink away into
uer ho.' Is. They know what NJ after
;, l"- IN, sror"r mt .rrnMri ihal . -; Al
and yOu have done % good work here. | can
r"nl'mh r. ihr time WHEN WIS almost afraid 10
- tw' VI" ~ "n account = IN" dogs Now you
So hardly any DOGS. and lave mot heard of "a
~ ~ s"hs'h in winch cnndlrn have been
"rhep "orlc all kuowmr. too. heAoe catcher
added, nnd they pul ever, o'~tpl" IN my
IN" dog talri lnoi. oar for thr dol-N Then %
cry EorI NJ. oct 10. Frames Eel 10, Hermann
dos und-r 'o,rr. rAr dogs tie. the usrm
700 ana -NlH tim in hali nm"in'nt iurhWhnI"
block. which "a nnuutr before Na- alive with
dog-. nor cur rili Us --tn. Many Oi the iniifN-
ni"n dp mott Iur o. a-o - us Tine other dny |
captured 20 dog alter long chase. nni ma oiliror
Of The Tenth PrrIu'l iuuN %, animal away and
released Inn icior hr could book ~ ny badge
nnd show my authority | intend H. naAe It
cnnrge against him.
Tnis nornlug vent ont early, and before
lOu."lp'k hud 81 d ls- ~ my cart hear ihm
on th" lot of SnItoulirr dizzy ara Ia giyH MS %
c'nt- for rI'h dog that We capture. AMI that
onl} a limited nunb'r of officer. are 10 br m
Ioyed.
IRfiDi LENT POIM