The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-05
FROM THE DOG POUND TO co INTO EXILE IN THE KLONDYKE

ing some Newfoundland blood. The
dogs We're selected peculiarly with
reference To their fitness for service in
the Yukon regions, the ma jority having
long. warm hair, and no dog being ac-
cepted that was not tough-footed, a
good traveller and of an intelligent
breed. Their weights ran from so to
50 pounds and they We're all of stocky
build. it being the intention to avoid
both excessively light and heavy ami
mails.
The agent who selected this live
stock made the dog pound his head
quarters for three weeks and the fact
that he was paying prices somewhat
higher than those usually quoted to
dog pound keepers may account for the
remarkably large number of dogs which
disappeared from Chicago homes dur
ing that period. and failed to return in
spite of offers of reward. Certain it is
that the first dog pound realized an un-
expectedly large number of high class
animals.
Upon their arrival in Seattle the ami
mails were placed in kennels in a large
building 300 feet long by as feet in
breadth, each kennel being fitted with
a raised board floor. partitions, and all
needful arrangements for sanitary and
clearly conditions. adjoining the
building was a large yard. well fenced
in which the dog ran at Will when not
hitched TO sleds for training purposes.
They were placed in charge of men
who knew just how to care for them.
and they are now rapidly being trained
for service.
After a little preliminary education
in Seattle the dogs will be placed on
sale for the benefit of parties en- route
for Alaska. and it is expected that an
enormous business will be done when
the rush of gold seekers comes in the
spring. Last year when no one had
realized what treasure was going to
waste in the dog pound. the oily ami
mails for sale We're the Eskimo dogs,
and the dealers would not sell the poor
est specimens for less than $40 each.
Now Eskimo dogs are valued very lit
tie above the shaggy haired pets whose
loss is being mourned by SO many fam
lilies throughout the states The dog
pounds of the country viii furnish an
ineXhaustible supply Of these. 1t is
probable that they Will be shipped
west by the thousand, and from Maine
to California the drag-netS of the dog
catchers will be actively engaged in
swelling the company's stock i'll trade
The demand is expected to be enor-
nous. Agents will he stationed in
Alaska and will ship, dogs by the hun
dred for sale direct to the miners there.
The company does not intend to con-
fine itself altogether to the scourings of
the dogs pounds. The finest specimens
secured will be selected by experts and
made the nucleus of vast army of
high bred and therefore high priced
dogs. which will be raised in a regular
breeding establishment that is to be a
feature of the company's plan. The
dogs will be selected with especial re-
gard for hardness and intelligence,
and will be housed in a large building
TO hA in
dogs. bred in the center of the gold dis
trict. Will begin life with klondyke con-
stituents. and it is expected that the
outcome of three or four generations
will be an animal that for fitness to
Withstand the rigorous climate of Alas
ka. to perform the duties of beasts of
burden, and for general all-around zero
weather utility, will compare faVorably
with the noted Eskimo dog of the Po-
lar regions. II. d. j.