Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-02
An Asylum for Orphan Dogs and Stray
TabbIes.

Tabbies,
AMONG the institutions which charac-
terize Philadelphia as the "City of
Homes" the Cat Refuge stands out
alone. Than this institution, which Is
located at 1242 Lombard Street, there Is
no other on the face Of the earth. Be-
sides being an asylum for the feline
orphan, the institution serves as a gate
way 10 the cat and dog paradise. The
&" Refugee is purely non-sectarian in It's
character. The cat or dog which was
once the property of Christian, jew or
pagan, be It Thomas or Tabitha, with
out distinction of race, color or previous
condition, is admitted to the asylum II
It is in need of home. The homeless,
| friendless feline orphan, who has been
the target for ragged and unfeelng
street Arabs, and showered with brick
bats and bootjacks as it sung its plain
tive melodies in the silvery light on q
summers evening, is received at the
city Refuge by kind hearts and minister
ing hands.
Although this home has been estab-
lished for about seven years, its exist
ence until recently has been compara-
lively unknown by majority of the
people of Philadelphia. During the last
year 1914 animals were received at the
| Refuge, and since the establishment of
this Institution 1880 have been cared
for. The Refuge is now receiving an
average of 12O cats a week. By far the
! greater portion of the refugees to this
! asylum have outlived their usefulness,
or are of that class whose lot from in
fancy has been an unhappy one" "
| The unfortunate creatures that have
been turned out to die of starvation, or
that never had a home to be turned out
of, are being brought to the Refuge in
increasing numbers, and are either pro-
vided with good homes or chloroformed
out of their misery. AS far as possible
homes are provided for such grimalkins
as are sound in body and mind and are
cOmely in appearance.
1t must not be inferred, however, that
any body and every body in quest of a
good mouser or a household pet can 90
TO the Refuge, make their selection and
walk away with it without questions be-
ing asked. The person who seeks pet
from the Refuge must come well recon-
mended as possessing a kind heart and
as being amiably disposed toward the
dependent "orphans." Appearances
are often deceptive, and it is possible
for the managers of the Refuge TO be
misled in their conclusions concerning
the person to whom they have intrusted
the keeping of one of their wards. Sc
when a cat or dog is transferred from
the Refuge TO the custody of some pri.
vate family one of the officers of the
asylum looks after the indentured ami
NAL by visiting it periodically at its new
home to ascertain its condition.
1t not infrequently occurs that fam.
lilies have a pet dog or a cat that has
lived so long that life is a burden both
to the animal and its owners, but the
aged creature has so won the affections
of the family that they have not the
heart to put the sufferer out of misery
by killing it. By sending line to the
agent of the society, VIM. r. Biddle
that officer will call and remove the an
imal and put it into an eternal sleeI
through the agency of chlOroform. A
few days ago a venerable Tabby o.
twenty-five years and canine of nine
teen years Of age thus gently terminated
the tenure by which they clung to theil
earthly existence. No charge is made
by the society for these offices of mercy
but where persons are disposed to con
tribute in consideration of the good &C
complished the donations are gladly re
ceived, for the Refuge is still heavily
encountered with debt, which the society
is yearly striving to liquidate.
Another important feature connected
with the asylum is that families going
out of town for the summer months car
have their cats or dogs boarded at tn,
Refuge during their absence and havt
the consolation of knowing that theil
pets will receive every care and atten
ton that they would from their kline
masters and mistresses.
The fame Of this charity has reached
the Paris Society for the Protection o.
Animals from Vivisection. About {
month ago Miss Elizabeth Morris
Chairman of the Refuge Committee, re
ceived letter from Miss Ellie E
Bishop, at Paris, asking particulars con
cerning the manner of conducting tn
Refuge, with a view to establishing
similar institution in that city.-Phild
delphia Record.