Western Kansas world., 1892-05-28

This is for the boys. We read thus
week where the citizens Of Kansas City
numerically punished some dog catch
ers." Perhaps you don't know what "dog
catchers" are? They are class OF
officials, employed in all large cities, to
catch dogs which roam the streets with
out any owner. Dogs thus caught are
impounded for twenty-four hours, and, 1t
the owner does not call and pay 81 with
in that time, the dogs are put into an iron
cage and sunk into the river until they
are drowned. Where there is no river, or
body of water, other means are resorted
to to kill them. '.Dog catchers" receive
certain amount for every dog they
catch, and hence their cupidity sometimes
excites them to capture unoffending dogs
and various schemes and articles are re-
sorted to. We take the following from
the Kansas City Gazette: ''On North
Fifth street, an hour later, the catchers
"snared" dog belonging to man who
happened to be at home at the time. The
man was a lover of his canine aud
wouldn't part with him under any cir
cumstances. They had wired the dog.
They caught him by the legs and they
both pulled as hard as they could until
the poor doggy" was dead. The man
cried like a child over his loss. He
threatened to kill the cruel Hcatchers,"
and with this avowed intention he pulled
from his pocket big horse pistol and un-
mercifully beat one of the negroes over
the head until he bled like 'stuck pig"
After this the man took a car for Chelsea
Park. The little episode caused large
crowd to assemble, but no policeman was
in sight" The writer arrived in Kansas
City one morning, about daylight, and
took cable car from the Union Depot.
We observed couple of !"dog catchers"
in front of residence where very fine
puppy was playing in the yard. They
had opened the gate and were trying to
induce puppy" by nice words and fresh
beef, to come outside. But the puppy
was shy and did not seem particularly
fattered by the attentions he was receiv-
ing. Finding that he could not be in
duced to come outside, the 'catchers"
made rush for him, threw a sack over
his head to keep him from giving the
alarm and dumped poor puppy into
their wagon and drove rapidly away.
The owner of the little doggie, perhaps
some nice little boy who thought the
world of him, would grieve for him and
wonder what could have become of him.
We have seen these "dog catchers" ply
ing their avocations on the streets of a
large city. We were particularly struck
with the methods employed by firm in
Cincinnati. A wagon containing large
cage was driven through the streets. A
dog, who apparently understood the
business, trotted along by the side of the
wagon. Presently farmers wagon came
along with fine dog-one of these mild
eyed, kindly appearing. intelligent
Shepherd dogs under the wagon. The
"dog catcher's' dog went to hin.
wagging his tail with every evidence of
delight in thus being privileged to get
with his country cousin. We
don't understand the dog language, al
though most of us understand the signs,
and we know just what passed between
those dogs. 81 am SO glad to meet you.
You are one of my best friends" just like
a politician hunting for votes.) And the
dog from the rural districts, unused to
such Establishments, and doubtless feel
ing much fattered by the marked at
tention of the city dog, fell behind his
owners wagon, and, in an unguarded
moose was thrown over his
head and around his neck; he was
strangled go that he could not give the
alarm and was roughly thrown into the
cage and driven Off.