The record-union., 1891-12-19
THE HUMANE.
Proposal for a Humane Society in
Sacramento.
History of the San francisco Associa-
tion-what Has Been Done There
What May be Done Here.

movement is on foot to organize in
this city Society for the Prevention of
cruelty TO Animals. An agent of the
western Humane Journal of st. Paul is
now in the city and laboring in that di-
fection. A large number of names have
already been secured of citizens who are
willing to form such an association.
A similar society has been in existence
in San Francisco for twenty-four years,
and it numbers its members by thou
sands. That society was organized by
four citizens of San Francisco, one of
whom is now resident of Sacramento.
a special Act of the Legislature was Sc
cured to enable it to have status in
court. and the fines imposed for inhu-
manity to domestic animals went to the
the society and still do.
The association was at first condemned
and reviled, and its promoters looked
upon as sickly sentimentalists. But it
lived down all that and became one of
the most popular organizations in the
metropolis, and was by James Lick made
beneficiary of part OF his great wealth.
In that city it reformed the method of
transporting food animals to the city; put
stop to abuses IN butchering; secured
regulation of weight horses should draw
on certain grades; broke up the practice of
working sick and disabled horses and of
turning horses out to die after faithful
service of years; effectually stopped cruel
driving of livery horses by young bloods
and heartless renters of the animalS-a
reform that brought about every livery
man in San Francisco into the associa-
ton.
FURTHER REFORMS.
1t also reformed the management of the
public pound, and in this year San Fran
cisco has made the society its Pound
master, and it has erected large, we'll
appointed house for impounded bruteS
and the care of wounded animals, and il
is provided also with humane appliances
for pptting to death condemned animals.
This beneficent society has also done
much in improving the harness OF
horses, and securing proper care of dis
abled and sick animals, and is so power
ful restraint that overlooking, overdriy-
ing, beating or neglecting horses in San
francisco is too dangerous for anyone to
attempt.
It has succeeded in that city in intro
ducing the proper methods of handling
and subduing wild and vicious horses,
and of breaking in young horses, and in
the handling of horses that have to be
surgically treated. 1t has had a decided
influence also in cultivating the spirit of
kindness generally, since the effect of
Kind treatment of domestic animals,
upon youth and owners of animals tends
to make them kind to human beings,
precisely as inhumanity to animals by
man indicates the person who is cruel
and unfeeling to human beings under his
control.
In the matter of transportation of fowls
end other living food, and its care in the
markets, the San Francisco Society has
cone great, good work, and out of its
efforts has grown the system of market
Inspection.
In North and South America there are
7 ow nearly 400 such humane agencies,
and some of them have branched out
into work for the prevention of cruelty
to children, the encouragement of life
saving, and in rewarding heroism, as,
the reSue of the drowning and of those in
peril from fire and other sudden danger.
In ali cases these societies have been rec
ognized as powerful influences in educat-
ing in the humane principle, and in in
fuencing youth to be merciful and to
abhor cruelty.
NOT EXPENSIVE.
Such associations are conducted at very
slight cost. The San Francisco society
operated for years upon the income it de-
rived from imposition of fines by the
courts, and when cruelty to animals there
ceased, its membership was called on for
but a few dimes annually to pay for a
Headquarters and an agent constantly in
attendance. In lesser cities they are car
ried on at merely nominal expense.
One of the great values of such a society
In a community is that it relieves indi-
viduals from the necessity of filing COM
plants and making arrests. Intorma-
ton lodged at the society headquarters is
all that is sufficient. For instance, where
the San Francisco society has to resort to
arrest once, it abates cruelty in twenty
cases by simply holding up
THE WARNING FINGER.
In some cases, as in most such efforts
for good, enthusiasts have gone to ex-
tremeS and brought these societies en-
barrassment by pushing the work to the
border land of absurdity. But lately this
has ceased, for there has grown up a
code, so to speak, clearly defining the
limits within which action is cruel, and
without which it is not. For some
years the humane societies were at war
with scientists upon the question of viyi-
section, and the issue may be said to be
still an open one whether the demands of
science call for surgical experimenting
upon living animals in order to arrive at
essential truths. For long time rat batting
and the lighting of dogs for wagerS, and
similar practices, withstood the efforts of
the societies; but in most, if not ALL of
the States, the latter have triumphed and
laws have been PASSED affirmatively
chasing these ''amusements' as cruel
anu OppOSSQ " SOoo anu luS SOcl6-
ties enforce the law.
TO ORGANIZE HERE.
A meeting is to be held Tuesday evening
next at Y. NJ. 1. Hall, on Seventh street, to
organize Sacramento Society, and it is
probable that the San Francisco Society
will send up delegate to explain the
workings of the association there. Re-
Gently in Denver and in Salt Lake socie-
ties with large membership have been
formed, and Oakland, Stockton, Los An
Geles, San Jose Santa Cruz, San Diego,
Portland, Seattle, Ogden and Tacoma
have like successful societies. 1t is
cur belief that less cruelty to animals
is practiced in Sacramento than in any
community of like size of which there is
any report But there is nevertheless
room for an organization, for it cannot be
definitely known to what extent there are
abuses, nor how much the influence of a
humane organization may be needed un-
til there is systematic inquiry. Besides,
the society'S existence will be a credit TO
the community. There are cases now and
then presented where the yigor and fear
1esSneSs of Humane Society is needed;
the public do not hear Of them unless
there is an arrest, and arrests are rare be-
cause no one cares to make complaint and
take up the prosecution of offenders
single-handed. There is enough for
lively Humane Association to do here,
and one splendid field of usefulness for it
viii the providing of hfe-saving appli-