The record-union., 1894-12-15
SIX HUNDRED VhGRANT DOGS LESS.
Work of Poundmaster CooksIey the
Last Nine Months.
How the Public Pound is Managed
Visit of Inspection by Humane
Society Officials.

A few days since the President of the
Humane Society and City Trustee Law
ton paid visit of inspection to the public
pound, and the result thereof has been
embodied in the following report to the
Mayor:
Hon. b. Y. .Steinndn, lfagor-DEAR
SIR: On the incoming of your honor into
Office you requested the Humane Society
to manifest special concern in the keep
ing of the public pound. You also per-
1nitted this society to select the Pound
keeper, whom you nominated and the
honorable Trustees confirmed. w. u.
Cooksley was thus chosen and duly
qualified.
AS the society year is closing and we
are about TO retire for our successors the
Board OF Directors deem it right and
proper to submit TO you report relative
to the pound. We have, SO far as possi-
bile, kept watch over the pound admins
tration during the year and have freely
advised the Poundkeeper, who is also an
officer of our association under the State
law.
On this day the President of the society,
An behalf of the board, and accompanied
by Hon. w. ID. Lawton, Secretary OF the
society and President of the honorable
Board of Trustees, made an investigation
of the pound.
1t was found to be roomy as 10 grounds,
affording sufficient run for stock; to be
scrupulously clean; to have good water
ing provision and food tor animals as
good as can be expected.
The stables are small but warm, neat
and excellently kept. They are prob
ably ample for present demand.
The dog pens are numerous. warm,
clean and could scarcely be bettered
There is dry yard also where small
animals can have sunshine and exercise
If long detained.
The shelter-shed is fair, but should be
lnelosed at the north end, and Mr.. Cooks
ley reported that he had already given
the order for the work.
The old cruel and unnecessary method
of killing dogs, I. Co. by beating them TO
death with clubs laid on over the head,
mas not been permitted since the first
month of the present term. The dogs are
placed in wooden cage which is sunk
IN hVe-foot well of water, and the death
of the animal IS painless and quick. We
witnessed the drowning of a lot of dogs
by this process, and are confident that it
is as humane as is the ''Lethal Chamber"
used in the Animals Home in San Fran
cisco.
The books of the pound are fairly kept,
but do not comply with the intent of the
ordinance, which calls for register and
full descriptions. We advised the keeper
10 at once change the system, and he
promptly complied. He had been follow
ing the method the city has for many
years permitted.
1t is the intention of the law that all
lmpounded animals shall be num bered
on register" with date, full descrip-
ton and such other entry as viii make
identification complete. We therefore ad
vised that a registry number be given to
each entry; that the date of the taking be
next entered. then the place. then the de-
ScrIptlon OF the animal and then the
49, i
wise the words, unknown owner" On
an opposing page should appear the same
register number and entry as to the dis
position OF the animal, the fee received,
the date of disposition and the name of
the person redeeming animals. In case
of estrays, the State law directs what
must be done, and this should be eX-
pressed in brief upon the register. Thus
identification can always be made, and
there will be record evidence in possess
sion of the city as to how it has disposed
of property seized.
The approach to the pound is very bad.
The grounds are at Iwenty-nlnth and )
streets. The street cars run to Twenty
eighth and streets. For the intervening
block there is an ungraded street, and
low, wet, weed-grown ground on each
side. Women and children come to the
pound daily, and must wade through
mud and wet weeds to reach it.
We respectfully advise that the Street
Superintendent be directed to lay walk
OF refuse lumber, two planks wide, along
one side of the block referred to. The
cost of rude and sufficient walk need
not exceed $40, as the city has old plank
sufficient we are informed.
We believe the public pound is well
kept; that it is in the hands of an eff
Gent and humane man, who, despite the
very disagreeahle duties imposed upon
him, discharges them faithfully. He has
the best and most presentable Impound-
ing wagon any keeper has ever put upon
our streets, most of those of the past be-
ing disgraces to the city. His grounds are
we'll kept, and he has conforned to hu-
name methods, drowning dogs and shoot
ing hoof stock according to the system of
the American Humane Society.
NoTE.-We find that since pril 1st the
Poundkeeper has killed 643 dogs, and we
therefore conclude that he has done well
In keeping the streets clear Of unta gged
dogs, though he cannot wholly clear them
out.