Evening star., 1897-03-24
DOG OWNERS ARE MAD
Over Recent Order Made by the Health
Officer.
To 1mpound All Dogs Without Tags
Receipts for Dog Taxes Not
to Be Considered.

According to an order just issued by
Health Officer Woodward all dogs running
at large without tag shall be taken up
and before the same are released a fee of
s. must be paid. without respect to the
posse ssion of a license receipt showing
that the license fee had already been paid
This order has called out considerable pro-
test from dog owners.
Several cases have been brought to the
attention of the Commissioners.
Yesterday an old colored woman appeared
before Commissioner Ross and burst out
crying because her dog had been taken up
by the poun lmaster. and was to be put to
death unless she paid a fine of 81. She
explained that she had already paid :he
license fee and in proof exhibited a receipt
from the collector of taxes certifying there
to. Commissioner Ross sent for the health
officer and inquired into the matter and
meanwhile ordered a stay of execution
1t seems the health officer has resur:ected
the old law of 1878 referring to the keeping
and licensing of dogs the paragraph rc.at-
ing to the order in question reading as FOL
lows:
The poundmaster of the District of CO.
lumba shall during the entire year seize
all dogs running at large without the tax
tag. issued by the collector aforesaid. at
ts.ched. and shall impouud the same; and
If, within forty-eight hours. the same are
not redeemed by the owners thereof by the
payment of two dollars they shall he sold
or destroyed. the poundmaster may deem
advisable, and any sales made by virtue
hereof shall be deemed valid to ALI intents
and purposes. in all the courts of the Dis
trict Of Columbia" ;"
Heretofore it has been the policy of the
poundmaster to take up all dogs found
running at large without a tag. but they
were promptly released when the owner
appeared at the pound and exhibited the
license receipt. The poundmaster argued
that it was unjust to compel an owner who
had already paid the license tax TO pay IL
again This has been the custom ever
since the passage of the law.
This morning an owner of dog that had
been caught appeared at the health office
and asked for an order releasing his prop
erty. He exhibited license receipt show
ing the dog was legally licensed. but the
health officer refused to release the dog
Thereupon the owner became angry and
warned him not to destroy his property or
he would sue him. He added further that
he not going to pay anything for the
release of his dog.
A sufferer by reason OF the order this
afternoon said:
This order is preposterous. The health
officer has resurrected that old law. which.
by fair Interpretation means just the re-
verse of what he has ordered. He had bel
ter by far be attending to the filthy alleys
and poor garbage service of the city. There
is no justice. no equity. in the order. and |
cannot understand how the Commissioners
could permit such a farce to be enacted
Why. take my case. FOR instance. / paid
my fee of s. when the license year opened.
and securely fastened the tag about the
dogs neck. Several days ago the tag was
lost or stolen. and day or so afterward
my dog was taken up. I went AT once to
the pound and found him there. I showed
the receipt for the tag. and informed
that | would have to the health officer
he had issued an order forhidding the
release of any dog without ;he payment of
a fine of s. Now, | tell Won. This keS
me mad. For cne / don't propose to sup
nit to it. and l shall fight the In the
courts. There is no warrant of law for
such a proceeding"