The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-22
DOGS IN BELGIUM.


Forced to Do Much Laoor anu Anon AA'
most Starved to Death.
Now it must not be thought that dogs
In carts are only to be seen now and
then in Belgium. Quite the reverse,
for the dog seems, especially in Brus-
sells, to be the chief beast OF burden.
Here must state, l think the loads put
after the poor brutes are at times out
of all reason too heavy. Brussels is In
places deucedly billy and steep, and to
put 400, 500 or 600 pounds after dog
is too much of good thing. Again.
the dogs are not overfed. The Flemish
farmers are as rule very close livers.
Most of them drink their coffee with
out milk, so as to be able to convert the
latter, which, of course they produce,
into King Leopold's coin. Now these
farmers live on next to nothing, so we
can imagine that the dogs do not come
in for much grub of any strengthening
nature. l believe their food consists
of buttermilk and potato parings all
boiled up together, and often not.
They feed their dogs like store pigs,
and it's no wonder the poor animals
loins are thin and their rib bones are
Very prominent. Still they toll on,
willing creatures to a degree.
It's wonder to me how their legs
wand the work so well. All are sound,
or perhaps had better write COMPARE
lively sound. Their bone is great for
their bodies, and the feet seem to stand
the strain well. These dogs really
take the place of asses in Belgium,
where few of the latter are seen. A
good working dog fetches $35 or $40,
and considering the amount of work
he gets though he is not a dear dog
at that sum. / saw several on sale in
the Brussels market on Sunday morn
ing last.
The working dog is generally of
sturdy build. If an American or En-
glishman were asked how the dogs
were bred, his reply would be: prob
ably between a mastiff and smooth
sheep dog" and as there seems to be
no distinct breed of these dogs, the
foregoing might be generally accepted
as definition of the appearance of the
breed. All bakers use dogs for their
carts. There are, however, no shafts
to these concerns. but the dog works
underneath. There is crossbar
placed just under the handles of
the cart and by means of
bent axletree the dog can work
under the cart and between the wheels.
1t will be seen he is closer to his work
than the dogs in the usual fashion to
be seen in milk and vegetable carts.
The attendant simply steers the cart
with the handles, excepting where the
hill is steep, and then le boulanqer
lends but little help to the painting dog.
: Therefore. on the whole, l do not
think the working dogs in Belgium are
treated with the amount of kindness.
good treatment and nourishing food
they thoroughly deserve. l am not
one OF those who are of an opinion
dog should not work. 1 believe thew
prefer ordinary labor to being chained
up In dirty. sinking yard, with but
little than pail of stale water before
them. Let the Belgians feed their dogs
better, put smaller loads after them
and have water troughs placed at reg
ular intervals about the streets, and
there will not be much to grumble at;
and should think the St. Hubert So
clety-that is the kennel club of Bel
glum-could do lot to manage things
a little better on the side of the dogs.
Turf, Field and Farm.