Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-01-31
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
AN EARNEST APPEAL IN BEHALF
OF THE POOR HORSE.

Ahe Cruel Cheek.Rein - Docking =
Poor Food and uncomfortable
Quarters Iil.Fitting Harness
and Rough Treatment Poor
Rich PeOPie'' Put Yourself I'm
His Place.
ED. STANDARD:
The everyday cruelties practiced
on animals, both from ignorance and
thoughtlessness, make grand total
for which we are all responsible. One
cannot walk the streets without see-
ing horses in all states OF suffering.
Some have their heads drawn up with
tight, overbearing cbeck-rein, which
causes agony no words can express.
The powerful muscles of the neck are
drawn into an unnatural position,
which becomes extremely painful, the
circulation OF blood through the brain
and throat is checked. while the pres
sure of the bit on the highly sensitive
mouth inficts intense agony. What
wonder that a high-spirited animal
runs away when exasperated with
such torture? Try tying back your
own head with your eyes lifted to the
blazing sun, aud without being able to
Iaoo nh aIRnnInp Let
one drive you at swift pace for hours,
you will 90 home to your stable in
haste to cut the check rein from the
harness and swear the Arabs oath
with your hand upon your horses
shoulder that he shall never again
wear that instrument of torture.
Docking is nothing less than a
crime against God and nature, it is a
deliberate insult TO the Creator to
mutilate the splendid animal made
"to rejoice in his strength" who
" mocketh at fear and and is not af-
frighted," and "whose neck he has
clothed with thunder" This in
human operation is followed by more
cases of lockjaw than all other causes
combined, and the horse is compelled
as long as he lives to suffer by the loss
of his tail from the attacks Of insects
to which he is even more sensitive
than man. Then, some one has found
out that it saves grooming to rob him
of the hair Heaven gave for a protec-
ton from heat as we'll as cold, by
clipping, and the diseases brought on
by such exposure are often fatal.
A horse is absolutely at the mercy
OF his owner, who may keep him in a
dark, unventilated, dirty stable, ex-
posed TO drafts, with poor food and
water, or not enough of either,
irregular feeding, ill-fitting harness or
saddle, rough treatment by his at
tcndant who will often kick or strike
him if he finches under the sharp use
of the curry comb, and some are 80
thoughtlessly cruel as to cut away the
delicate hair which lines the ears
placed there to protect the organ OF
hearing from the entrance of insects
or foreign substance which would not
only cause pain but deafness. He is
usually expected and required to start
off at full speed after hearty feed or
whenever driven; if his binders pre-
vent him from recognizing some ia
miliar object and he shies, tho lash ie
used to still farther terrify him, ami
no account is made OF what he has to
draw in regulating his speed.
"There are more poor rich people
in this city than / have ever seen be-
FORE" remarked a young man to a
resident of . neighboring town. How
sol" was the inquiry "Why, single
horses are drawing carriages that
should be drawn by two, with from
three to five occupants; which looks
like an unintentional admission OF
poverty"
II 10 person is ever at loss how to
deal with an animal let him ask HIM
self how he would like to be treated
under the same circumstances, and act
accordingly. The golden rule fits all
cases most admirably and that person
who considers it beneath him to treat
an animal with kindness acts with a
narrow selfishness unworthy the ros.
session OF an immortal soul.
SARA THoRP THOMAS,
Alexander, Ark.