Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-14
A Plea for Dogs.
love dogs, for they are honest creatures.
Ne'er fawn on those they love nntn

wv uohS, ioi blc9 are Honest creatures
Meier fawn on those they love not.n
As police force, dogs prevent much
crime. Notwithstanding human foresight
human prudence, and human vigilance
theft, housbreaking, robbery, and ever
murder would be more prevalent were i
not for our canine home guard called b,
some agricultural writers WORTHLESS;
ours" The bark of a dog, however small
will scare away the man who, with feloni
GUS intent, approaches our doors. lie
may not fear the dog, but he does fear the
alarm given by this faithful sentinel. We
can never know exactly to what extent
these guardians have shielded our property
from midnight incursious. We're it moi
for dogs, egg producing and poultry rails
ing would become even more difficult and
Improbable in our rural towns. Wild
animals that destroy sheep and lambs
would become numerous and audacious
and their depredations would far exceed
those made by dogs.
TAXATION OF DOGS,
The aim of government is to protect the
rights OF persons and property; hence, our
laws generally, and justly too, decree that
property shall bear the burden of its pc.
cuniary support. The dog tax beyond
their property value, it seems to me is to
revive the principle of licensing lotteries
and grog shops. blush for the states.
manship of New England when | reflect
that grave and venerable legislators have
said, Some dogs kill sheep, let US, there.
fore, tax all dogs, and with the proceeds
pay for the killed and wounded" Will
not these Solons next say, "Some BOYS
steal fruit. honey, melons, etc, therefore
let us tax all boys, and with the proceeds
pay for the stolen propertyp" "Oh! con
sistency thou art Jewel"
The man of wealth keeps his fast horse.
lie may do what he will with his own.
May not poor man keep pet dog? MAY
he not bestow this indulgence upon his
children? Let us cultivate in the Young
andltender mind love and affection that, in
after life, it may be better prepared to
meet and endure the inevitable results
which flow from social position. Does
some one say let children have other pets
| like the suggestion; but let them have
this also, for there is nothing else that can
fill the place of IN affectionate dog.
When public opinion shall be so chang.
ell as to regard property in dogs as sacred
as property in sheep, then will men cheer
fully invest in choice breeds, and ere long
a worthless dog will be the exception and
not the rule. To-day there is, probably.
not a court in New England where full
redress could be obtained for the wanton
destruction ofa valuable dog. Few will
make large investments in property that
the law does not adequately protect. Dogs
are not II prominent cause of decline in
sheep husbandry. In rural towns far from
market, sheep husbandry is almost uni
versally on the tncreaSe; while in the
vicinity of cities and large towes it is gem
orally on the decrease. Nevertheless dogs
are more numerous in proportion to the
population where sheep are on the in
crease. than where they are on the de-
crease. This is certainly general rule,
and | know ofno exception that covers
any considerable territory. The cause OF
the increase or decline in sheep husbandry
is to be found chiefly in the actual and
comparative profits of the business.--K.
in NeO England Farmer.