Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-12
A HAPPY DISCOVERY.
The Mayor Encounters Surprise in the
Dog Ordinance.

The Mayor Encounters Surprise in the
Dog Ordinance.
While the Trustees were engaged in hear
ing the dog case Mayor Gregory frequently
consulted the only book of ordinances that
the city possesses, and exploded bomb
shell by reading a provision of an old or
dinance, still in force, which makes it a
misdemeanor for any person to keep dog
anywhere within the city limits unless he
procures tag for the same.
The general superstition had been that
dogs were not to run at large on the public
streets and alleys unless they were tagged,
but this provision does not recognize the
right of citizen 10 keep dog even in his
backyard.
The reading of the ordinance gave rise to
quite a discussion, in which some citi-
zens present took part and all expressed
surprise-even the Trustees-at the exist
ence of such law.
Trustee Wolf remarked that if the Board
desired to enforce such law, it had better
hire John L. Sullivan for Poundmaster, to
enter private property and take dogs there
from. There would be no use" he said,
"in sending common, very-day scrapper
for that kind of work"
Mayor Gregory said that, while this pro-
vision would be very hard on some classes
of people, he believed that all dogs ought
to be taxed in some way. Still, he thought
the provision inst read should be repealed.
Trustee Wolf-"Fm with you on that,
and am ready to vote aye just now.
An order was passed then and there by
the Board suspending the operation of that
portion of the ordinance until il can be reg
ularly repealed, and the jurisdiction of the
Poundmaster restricted to the public streets
and alleys.
The fact wss developed during the dis
cussion that boys representing the Pound
master have been known to enter private
yards and take dogs therefrom and place
them in the Pound, entsilipg an expense
of 81 on the owner in each case, provided
he was lively enough to get 20 the Pound
before his dog was killed:
Evidently the PoundmasteJs had all
dropped on that almost unknown pro-
vision of the ordinance. and had worked it
for all it was worth. The Trustees should
pass a common-sense Pound ordinance,
which will so clearly dsiine the nights Oh
owners and of the PonBdmaster thst there
can be no mistaking the privileges OF the
one nor the powers and J1risdieuon Oh
the other. Gross abuses have IN the past
been enacted by the Pouudmasters and
brutal deputies upon defenceless owners OF
animals. The present system OF fees
has undoubtedly stimulated these practices,
and while the subject is before the city
authorities, it might be well for them to
inquire closely into it.
Instances can be cited where COWS have
been united and taken from the streets in
tbs outskirts of the city when fastened to
their owners fences). on the claim that
their ropes were q few inches longer than
the length prescribed by the ordinance,
and fees demanded and collected from the
owners on the strength of such simple, IN
supported declaration.
If reliable persons can be ct to perform
the duties of PoundmssteT, al fair salary,
BIZ giving coed bond, the lees TO go to
the city, il might be best TO adopt such
plan.