The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-29
A PENSfONED DOG
what Led 20 An OmciAI Recogniti0A ~ .
Territorial Legislature.
TBouton Glsbs.I


In the Territory OF New Mexico the
Legislature, by joint action, recently
pensioned O dog for noble services. In
that country there are many sheep farms,
and shepherd dogs are so well trained IN
caring for the flocks of their masters that
it is their daily practice to take out the
nocks in the morning to pasture, guard
them all day, and at night return them
to the fold or coral. This work OF the
Mexican dogs is so common and so faith
fully performed that it is looked upon as
q matter of course, and nothing more
than should be expected from we'll
trained dog. This being the case, 1t
would appear that the dog worthy OF a
pension in that territory must have per-
formed some very marvellous feat indeed,
and something out of the common line OF
canine achievement. And he did. He
did not save his mistress life from the
murderous fury of the savage, nor her
child from being Drained against a door
post, or being choked by huge black
snake. for his master was not married,
and had no wife or babe, but led soil
tary life in his solitary ranch IN very
solitary part of New Mexico.
1t Glanced that the dog in question, ON
returning of an evening with his sheep
to the fold. discovered that his master
was not stirring about, but remained In
side the shanty and kept very quiet
The next evening it was the same. The
dog. when he penned in the sheep, re-
paired to the shantY, smelled through
crack in the door his masters presence,
but the man was still quiet and did not
breathe. The dog scratched, barked,
and even howled, but no response came
from within. The door remained closed;
no smoke rose from the chimney to greet
the early morn. But the dog true to his
appointed duty, went out with the sheep
on the third day, and cared for them
while they cropped the heritage ON the
hillsides. But he was getting hungry,
! and that night when he drove the sheep
| into their pen, the last one to attempt to
| 90 in became the victim of his appetite.
This method of providing for his own
wants became q portion of the faithful
dogs daily duty. Every evening the
last sheep to try to enter the fold was
seized by him and served for supper and
| for breakfast and dinner the following
day. AS stated before, the ranch tO
which the dog belonged was in a solitary
part of the territory, and out of the track
of travel and social intercourse or vista
ton.
For two years from the time of the
masters death-as aseertained by data
left by the latter-the faithful dog
tended the flock committed to his
charge, and had fresh mutton for supper
every night. The flock was not deci
mated by this steady drain upon its re
sources. On the contrary, it increased
in numbers, and when, at the end of tw'
wears from the time of the death of tn
proprietor, the ranch was visited and tn
remains of the poor fellow found, the do
was still at his post of duty, jealousl.
Guarding his flock, and driving them t
the best pasture every day, and to tn
fold at night, before which he slept, t
keen the wild sheep-eaterG of the plain
a civil distance. Such fidelity excite
admiration wherever the story was tolc
and the Arcadian Legislators of the Tel
ritorv. in fit of generosity and enthr
siasm' at their session two years ag
they have biennial sessions IN thf
happy country, granted pension fC
life to that dog, to be paid from tt
State Treasury, "a a reward Tor II
. fidelity. and no doubt as an encourage
meut to all other shepherd dogs IN thi
Territory to be good dogs and faithful.