Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16

supEnrLuoUs DOGS AND GOATS.
The city Council should not only pass the
dog and goat-ordinance suggested by ,ne
BOARD Of Police Commissioners ana re-
ported by the Committee on ordinance''
but should thank the board for Its Tore
thoughts and wisdom In this matter.
There are too many worthless ours ana
fower-eating goats in Richmond. y "e
could nd ourselves Of one half OF them
we should accomplish grea, feat The
proposed ordinance will do at least tnis
much for us. And 1t will make II wen
nigh impossible for an unmedalied dos
or goat TO run at large here.
Under the new system dos-catcners
would be at work every day In the year.
and their movements would be SO noise
less there would be no time for.owners
OF unlicensed dogs to call the dogs
from the street into their yards III
brief. Il is proposed TO collect the license
tax strictly, and make death certain 10
the dog that walks forth unmedalled ana
remains unclaimed In the city pouho
for the space Of forty-eight hours.
The pound system is in operation III
most of the great cities OF the country
The form of 1t recommended TOT hich-
mond is conservative. In many cities
no dog licensed or unlicensed. Is al
lowed 10 go at large unless muzzied OF
taken out by his owner, and In the lat
ter case the owner, or owners represent
tatiye. must lead the dog by a rope or
chain. Our Police Board asks Tor no
such radical legislation here. Under their
plan licensed dogs would be allowed to
20 at large as at present.
The proposed ordinance imposes fine
upon whomsoever removes a medal from
a dog or goat. We are not sure but that
conservatism is here carried to an ex-
tremity. To remove a medal from a dog
or goat is stealing. However. none OF us
would like to see a pranklsh boy OF ours
punished as a thief for removing medal
from dogs collar. There's the rub.
The Dispatch has been asked by
several of its correspondents what as
surance the authorities are going to give
them that their medals will not be stolen
and their dogs impounded and killed.
or course, our authorities can give no
assurance other than 1t would give by
providing a punishment for the offence,
and providing officers to make arrests. etc.
Dogs are allowed upon our streets as
a matter OF grace, and therefore the own
ers of them must take some OF the
risk themselves. Stil. each dog i'm
pounded would be held In the pound for
forty-eight hours. and IL you should miss
your dog for that length Of time all
that you would have to do would be to
go to the pound and inquire If your dog
were there. II he were there. you would be
able to redeem him by paying for his
board and attendance at the rate Of %
cents a day.
So, 1t will be seen that all possible
consideration is to be given to the own
ers OF dogs-all possible consideration
consistent with the theory that sick and
nervous people and others who are
worried by dogs have rights In this town,
as well as dogs. There are between
six and seven thousand dogs in Rich
mond-mostly worthless dogs-and. II this
number could be reduced TO three thou
sand or less, the community would be
all the better off.
1t is not quite clear how bowling dogs
are to be dealt with, but doubtless they.
too, will be looked after. Every man
who keeps a bowling dog on his premises
ought ITO be fined S day, and $40
night. for the annoyance to which he
subjects his neighbors. There are dogs
in Richmond that have been bowling
nuisances to their neighborhoods for ten
or twelve straight years. Public officers
ought to be required to report these
cases, and not throw upon neighbors the
necessity of appearing as witnesses against
one another.
Mr. Laube and his associates OF the
Board Of Police Commissioners have
given very careful and intelligent study
10 the dog question, and we are sure
that the ordinance they propose will be
found to be practical and conservative.
IL Richmond is to deal with the dog
question, we do not see how 1t can be
done more wisely than In the manner
they propose.
Talk about metropolitan Richmondw
Why. 1t can never be metropolitan In APP
pearance, no matter what its human
population, so long as its streets and al
leys are overrun by hundreds of ours.
OF course. there Will be some oppo-
sition to the proposed change; but
sooner or later the change will be made.
There was opposition too TO excluding
hog-pens from the city limits, and to
preventing cows from running at large
but the good sense OF our people finally
prevailed. And the good sense Of our peo-
pie will prevail In this instance. Re
form In this matter may be delayed. but
1t cannot be defeated.