The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
HOME FOR STRAY PETS
MIR. AND MRS. ELsTER SURROUNDED
By HOSTS OF DOGS AND CATS.
'sThe Frances Power Cobb Refugee
for These CASTOR Creatures
Dogs with Stories.

Dogs with Stories.
OF all living animals under the sun there
are none more truly forlorn than the stray
dogs and cats. They are numerous and they
become in time the veriest outcasts. The
human beings who love cats and dogs with
a pedigree. or even only half a pedigree, are
legion. but the people who care for the COM
mon ours and pussies are rare indeed.
Across the sea in pretty home in North
Wales lives Frances Power Cobb, a woman
who has never married. Her name is
known the world over as writer, an editor
and humanitarian. She is the head of the
humane work in England. Through her,
homes have been established for the care
of the waits and strays of catdom and dog
dom. Whenever she hears of some person
or persons on some other part of the globe
who have a heart interest in these dumb
animals she at once begins a correspondence.
1t was by reason of the latter fact that
person who drives out North Pennsylvania
street may see a bright, fresh TIN sign paint
ed black and having in gilt letters, Frances
Power Cobb Refuge" One might suppose
that it was a place for poor girls or women
who need a shelter, but it Is not. The cot
tage Is comfortable and neat and the front
yard Immaculate with it's smooth-shaveu
lawn, its rose bushes Of red and pink bios
| SONS and its tall vines Of bitter-sweet. The
rear OF the yard is divided from the front
| by wire netting and over the grass in the
back yard there and race. play and
| sleep such a medley Of cats and dogs Of
various sizes and kinds that there seems
but little room for even one more.
| ring at the door bell is answered by O.
| pleasant-faced little woman and the joyful
bark Of a terrier, who scampers madly
] through the house as if glad that there is a
caller. In reply to an inquiry the visitor is
| invited into the parlor and the woman be-
| gins her explanation of her large family
which fills the back yard. The inhabitants
| of the cottage are Mr.. and Mrs. A c. Elster
and son ten years of age. 1t is their pleas
i ure to care for all stray animals that come
| in their way. Many Of their friends know of
I this charitable side of their natures and
! when they find animals without any visible
owner they are brought to the door. Others
gently drop family of young kittens over
4 the fence almost any time. The listers
never know in the morning how large their
family will be at night and vice versa. The
family at present numbers about twenty cats
i and dozen or more dogs. When Mrs
L
not fight she said, ''never after the first
day." There is an atmosphere OF peace and
the animals feel it. They are abundantly
| fed soon after their arrival as possible.
and as most of them are almost starved to
death when they come, their natural sense
of gratitude comes to the front and they
forget to be disagreeable and show their
teeth. Cats that make their first appearance
in this quiet family never know inside lis
wire partition how very awkward dogs can
make it for them on the other side.
EVERY DOG HAS A NAME.
Every dog has a name These cognomens
are given after their arrival on the scene
A yellow dog with a curly coat did not have
to wait long before he was called "Curly, >
and even If he has not a tooth in his head
and has to be fed on bread and milk care
fully prepared by the foster mother he car
show his appreciation of his good home by
a most vigorous wagging of his feathery
tail HAS that dog had a broken leg?" was
asked, and the interrogative was inspired
by queer sharp point at the shoulder
joint The dog referred to was a coal black
pug, not a white hair from muzzle to tail
| When he was addressed by his name OF
Mig" ne responded with a licking of the
chops and a thump, thump of the tail on
the floor, and quickly arose from his queer
position, and showed plainly that his anat-
omy was as perfect in outline as the best
bred dog on North Delaware street
Some of the dogs have interesting stories
| One day a man came in and told OF large
dog that sick down on Virginia ave-
nue.. that it had not had anything to eat
except what men who were in the buildings
near would give out of their lunch baskets
The horse was put in the buggy and the
hosts of the dog refuge went down after
him. They found him es the man had said
and it took the combined efforts of several
persons to get him IN the buggy. He was
so hungry that ne :iad no strength and
,ould not help himself. Before going home
with him he was taker to a restaurant
where he was given r. good supply OF
scraps. The dog was taken home, cared
for and recovered. enc of the pathetic
cases was terrier. which was left in a
house where family had moved away from
town. They did not want him because he
was so old, and so, not knowing caring
what would become OF him, they left him
He was taken into the refuge, but he haG
no interest in any o. his companions there
He would curl down ny the fire, and no,
many days after he died of a broken heart
Teddy" the clipper dog that announces
ALI guests at the house, will not associate
with the common dogs in the back yard
and tries to be aristocratic. He was g
founding just as much as they, but, like
humanity, he has forgotten his unhapp,
past. and revels only in the provision which
kind hearts have made for him. He was
lost dog and had the distemper. 1t tool
weeks of care. with all the known dog rem
edies and frequent medicated baths, I,
bring him back to good physical condition
While Teddy frisked about a soft, sleek ca
came rubbing around the chairs and dress
and, with a spring. jumped into Mrs. Els
! ter's lap, where, sure of warm reception
and comfortable place, as we'll as a good
ly share of petting, Moses made himsel
! peprfectly at home. Miss Frances Powe
Cobb is an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. and is vic
! Society," and so is Mrs. Elster
1t was by the similarity OF worl
that Miss Cobb heard of Mrs
Elster. and when she did she sent
small check to assist in the work For thi
, reason her name was given to the refuge
Miss Cobb gives to all societies. there be
ing one in London. one in Boston and TIT
Mary Clifford Home. There may be some Il
the West, but so far they are not generall
known.
TEN YEARS IN THE WORK.
Far ten wears Mr. and Mrs ElSter hav