The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-01
Quaker City Cats.

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Three little girls, none of them over
ten years of age, each clasping half
grown kitten in her arms, stood on the
corner of Thirteenth and Lombard
Streets, yesterday afternoon, says the
Philadelphia Record and held a brief
consultation.
II think it's real mean we have to
have 'em killed." said one, giving her
furry little charge fond caress. Lets
take 'em home again and beg some
more"
mo; there's no use. Mamma says
they must be killed, and we had better
hurry up and get home again. Come
on, replied another; and she led the
way to No. 1,242 Lombard Street,
where all three assembled the steps, and
one of the youngsters rang the bell.
1t was promptly answered by man.
"Is this where they kill cafspr said
the little girl whohad spoken last.
ayes, replied the man.
"Well, here's three. Please kill
them, but don't hurt them a bit; now,
mind" and the trio ruefully handed
over the three kittens and trotted away.
Attracted by the scene, Record re-
porter followed the man into the house
to learn the fate of the unfortunate
kittens. They were taken out. into
side yard. filed up with number of
pens and cages, and thrust into one of
the latter, through the grating of which
could be seen about twenty-five other
felines of all sizes, conditions and
styles, from tiny motherless orphans,
like the new arrivals, to the hardened
and utterly depraved masculine mon
sters that are wont to prowl about after
dark upon the streets and back-build-
ings and make night hideous with their
brawls. "How many do you usually
get in a week?a asked the scribe. 80,
anywhere from $50 to 300,n was the
reply. Last month / killed 1,1S0
eats and 1879 dogs here, and suppose
all the summer months will average
that high The speaker was Mr.. John
G. West, agent of the woman's branch
of the City Refuge for Lost and Suffer-
ing Animals. Continuing, he said
Every few people have any idea of the
work done here. The cats are brought
from all over the city, and, be-
sides that, we get letters every
day asking us to call for cats, some
times way out in West Philadelphia
or up the Kensington and Richmond
What's more, we go after them, and,
would You believe it, some of the people
who send for us all that distance refused
to pay even our car fare. Others give
us quarter or fifty cents, but not
many. We give the cats all they want
to eat while they are alive, but they
don't have long to enjoy themselves,
for every Wednesday and Saturday all
that are on hand are killed by being
suffocated with charcoal gas. After
they are killed they are carted away by
people who use their skins or sell them
to those who can use them" The record
of the year 1882 shows that during that
time 7, l51 cats were taken to the refuge,
most of them so sick or otherwise un-
desirable that it was the truest kind
ness to put them to a merciful death.
Another department of the refuge,
and one that helps to support it is the
boarding of pet cats durn g the sum-
mer months, while their owners are
away. There were more than seventy
of these pampered pussies enjoying the
delights of the establishment. The
quarters provided for them include a
large pen in the yard, with number
of wide shelves running around the
four sides, and little grass plat in the
center. Leading up from this lower
pen covered box runs to the second
story porch of the house, which is so
fitted up with shelves and has plenty of
ventilation through large windows COW
cred with wire netting, while higher is
third cage which can be used when
the humber of boarders become unusri-
ally large. To a lover of cats visit to
this department will be source Of
much pleasure for the display of felines
is really very good and includes some
remarkably fine specimens. Most Of
the boarders aFeesleek and fat, and are
strong contrasts 10, their unfortunate
kindred in the adjoining pen, whose
general appearance speaks of ameagre
bill of fare and hard times. The
boarders live very amicably together
and indulge in but few fights, spending
most of their time asleep on the shelves.
They are fed three times day, their
menu being made up of raw meat,
liver, milk and fish, and one handsome
tabby lives on an exclusive diet of raw
oysters and unskimmed milk, her
luxurious fare being paid for at an adj
vance over the regular rates Of fifty
cents q week.