National Republican., 1879-05-26
A Talk with the Poundmaster.


A Talk with the Poundnaster.
Every dog has his day The number of a
dogs days, however, underi the present dog
law, is exceedingly doubtful unless he wears
a tag as badge of respectabilty and is other.
wise properly accredited as n respectable mem
Der of the community. Poundmaster Einstcin,
commonly known as General, is the supreme
ruler of the destines of District dogs, and from
his throne in the out.ofthe.way and unsightly
Enclosures under the observatory wall issues
his edicts of death against the dog creation.
There is no man who has more varied or ex-
tensive acquaintance with dogs and dog life
than General Einstein. Since the dog license
law went into operation the forces Oft the pound
master have been unusually active. During
the year ending May 1 5,i97 dogs
were impounded, and of this number 5,145
were killed. After dog Is impounded IL can
be redeemed either by the payment of the
pound fee of 81 or tho production of the re.
quired license, giving q correct description of
the dog When dog is licensed 1t is furnished
with tag bearing number and also license
certificate, which, in case of the loss of the dog
will establish the identity of the dog. Many
tricks are resorted to to evade the payment of
the license and pound fees.
"Do people try to fool you often ?" asked
REPUBLICAN reporter of genial Sam Esnsteiu,
the poundmaster, who has been accused of look
ing like Cohen the agitator.
"Oh, yes" replied the General, "a few days
ago we caught n fine New Foundland dog on III
street, near the Government Printing.Of
The next day man came after it, swore he
had q license and wanted the dog released. l
told him to get his license, and he went away.
Ill =. 4.
man came to the pound with a;license for a
black and tan female dog named Fanny. He
was after skie terrier male dog. He told me
that it was the only dog he had. l told him l
was sorry, but he couldn't have his dog. We
have lots of cases like that. People borrow
licenses from their neighbors when they want
to get their dogs out of pound"
Have you found any dogs wearing spurious
tags?'
I'VE have had great many dogs of that
kind. One had trunk check instead Of tag;
another one was wearing Centennial badge.
We caught one religious dog with Catholic
medal on its collar. Another dog had a beer
check"
Don't people steal tags from other folks
dogst"
"Of course they do. We've caught three OF
four hundred dogs without tags which were
licensed. When the proper license certificates
| were shown the dogs were released those tags
were probably most all stolen"
Have you any idea what the dog popua
tion of the District is?'
81 made Il statement to the Board of Health
| Just before it was abolished, that there were
| $1,000 or 10000 dogs'i the District. There i.
hardly house but has its dog. Some dog
fanciers have as many rs fifteen dogs. Since
the new law went into force we have been
thinning them out considerably. Under the
old law we only went after them in dog days
and our operations were confined to the city
limits now we 90 to Uniontown and all ovei
the District in all seasons of the year. Las
July we used to get thirty-iivc or forty a day
A good many people, especially colored people
who were unable to pay the license, used t
} give up their dogs to the pound men. Now !
we get twelve q day we consider it good haul
Many people have killed their own dogs, 81
the number killed at the pound does not rep
resent all that have been killed."
Don't country dogs come into the city T.
settle ?"
"Countrymen used to bring dogs witt
them when they came to the market. w
caught few Of them. The owners went T.
the District Commissioners and got their dog
released under promise that they would kee
, them out of town."
What class of dogs do you get generally =?
only a few good dogs. If it keeps up lik
1t has during the past year all the cOmmo
, dogs will be killed. Men who have good dog
get licenses"
What do You do with the dogs after yo
" catch them ?"
They are kept twcnty.four hours. W
! have two pens at the pound. Dogs spend the
first day ut the pound in one pen. Then the
are removed to the other, and at the end of til
, second day those that are not redeemed al
shot. When we catch valuable dog we don
Kill him. AT the expiration of the iorty-egl
hours we sell him to anyone who will buy hii
!, for So the amount Of the pound fee"
"lIow do you kill the dogs?'
, "Thc dogs are taken out of the pen SCI
aratoly. A rope is placed around the doomC
dogs neck, and he is pulled up to II post
d such way that he can't move his head.
Q man then catches hold OF his snout with on
hand, and, putting pistol to his forehea
fires, and kills the dog instantly. The ba
h goes through the brain and into the spin
column. Out of all the dogs killed at IL
pound | never heard one of them utter
4 sound after he was shot. DIR. Triplett mac
= killed this way, and concluded that they hi
% no feeling after they were shot. We don't a
d low one dog to see another shot or to see ii
dead body of u dog. Tho dead-animal wagC
is is always ready ut the gate, and the body
n moved right away. In other cities they ha
" different ways of killing dogs but hold th
e my way is the best and quickest. In Phil
II delphia the dogs are smothered with gas
sc is said that one time twenty.four out
u twenty-five dogs, when they We're brought o
&c in tho fresh air, were revived, got up, Al
II scampered away"
l. "WhO catches the dOgsY
% "Wc have men pad to catch dogs. They
is out every morning. | don't think they can
t. beaten. | have seen them throw Il net hl
+. way across the street aud catch dog under il
r. will dogs have to wear muzzles this SUI
n mergp
Not unless the District Commissioners iss
a proclamation TO that effect. If there is n
b. danger from dogs they will issue II proclaim
tiOn. Dogs don't get mad as much rs peoT
think. II they are confined they get troubl
g some. | never saw but one mad dog in II
It life. That was several years ago, on FOur.an
10 a'half street. He ran straight ahead, biting
~ everything in his way, even stones. The
Spitz dogs are most likely to get mad, becau
they are not used to this climate"
n HEADQUARTERS for gents low-quarter sho
from seycnty-iiye cents per pair up, ut t
Great Boston Shoe Auction House, 49l Pen
sylvania avenue.
=, SIXrEEN.RB Parasols, Stinemetzs, IL