The advocate., 1897-08-18

humanely in their capture, inCarcera-
riCn and execution than in many other
cities.
In this city the pound for dogs is
located at Twenty-frst street and Le-
high avenue. 1t is an inclOsure of
about one acre, which contains the res
idence and Offices Of the superintendent
an ample yard and kennels for the
dogs, stable for the dog wagons, horses
and the death chamber
When captured dogs are brought
into the pound the law requires that
they shall be kept twenty-fOur hours
before being executed, but the rules Of
the society has extended the period to
seventy-twO hours, and at the explra-
tion of that time, if they have not been
redeemed, their existence is termi-
mated.
The dogs brought to the pound are
Of two classes, those captured by the
dog catchers when found at large on
the streets with no indication of hav-
ing paid the tax and cOnformed In
ether respects to the law for which the
indifference, neglect or impeCuniOsity
OF their owners is responsible, and
those brought to the pound by their
owners who wish to be rid Of them.
While the dogs are waiting in the
pound for redemption or death they
are we'll fed watered and sheltered,
botter care being given them, no doubt,
than many of them received from their
owners. The males and females are
kept separate. Since the WOman's
Branch Of the Society for the Preven-
ton Of Cruelty to Animals has been in
charge of the pound the killing has
been done by gas asphyxiatiOn, and for
twenty-five years by the use of car
bOnic oxide gas, which is known as the
Coleman Sellers process, the operation
of which, it is claimed, produces a
quick and painless death.
The death chamber contains COM
partment II feet long, feet inches
wide, and feet inches high. 1t is
built of brick, with brick floor, and
lined with cement to make it air-tight.
In the top are two windows or open
ings, and In the center of each is fitted
a pane Of glass At one end is the en-
trance and on one side the exit. In
another part Of the chamber are two
stoves or furnaces for generating the
gas from charcoal The dogs are
driven into the killing box or cOmpart-
ment, which they readily enter, in
happy ignorance Of the fate awaiting
them All the openings Of the COM
Eartment are then securely closed, SO
as to exclude the air. Then the damp
ors of the furnaces and the valves are
opened and the deadly gas rushes
along the pipes a sufficient distance to
cool before entering the compartment
containing the dogs.
Within forty seconds after the gas
enters the dogs are insensible, and In
sixty to seVenty-fye seconds life Is
entirely extinct. It is difficult to con-
Ceive a quicker or more humane death.
After the dogs have met their inglo-
rious death and the gas has been per-
mitted to escape, they are drawn out
at the exlt--the entrance and exit both
opening into the yard-and turned over
to the dead animal man.
Supt. George II. Mclaughlin keeps a
complete and separate record Of every
captured dog, and some idea Of the eX-
tent of this may be had when 1t is
known that during the year 1896 6,496
dogs were received at the pound, 1870
of which were sent to the pound or left
there by their owners. OF this total
Lumber received during 1896, SITS
were killed and 674 redeemed at 81
each, giving revenue to the city from
the pound Of $1,348.-Philadelphia
Times.