The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-29
FOR A I G DOG TAX.

The following is the petition which
urged Thea high dog tax and complain
ed interestingly of ine~ffectiveness" of
the temporary ordinances:
ITO the Honorable Mayor and Board
of Aldermen of the City of Whining
ton:
ct is understood that your honorable
body has been petitioned to continue
in effect the ordinance muZZling dogs.
We would most respectfully invite
your attention to what appears to De
a flaw in the wording of the ordinance,
viz, the words 'muzzled or chained
n under control
Your thirty day experiment, just ex-
pired, was not a success oward the
desirable end-sOme dogs were muz-
zled and permitted to roam at will, not
under control; other dogs were muz-
Zled with muZZles that satisfied the
authorities, but which permitted as
much freedom to the dog as formerly.
To illustrate: We are told that a bull
dog tackled two ~raccoons, killed one
and fetched it in and put the other to
flight. This is good work for a dog
unmuZzled, yet this dog had his muz-
zle on. Other dogs were led with chains
or cords. 1t was laughable to see a
small boy leading a great Dane with
a Irvine string that would have no more
than a spiders web had the dog con-
cluded not to be controlled. Other
dogs were neither muZZled or led, and
vet were not arrested for their con-
tempt for the ordinance.
LAS to the proposed of
the ordinance, believing that you have
the suppression and prevention of the
dread disease rabies in view, rather
han the m~altreatment of the dog, we
have the following suggestions to offer:
THAT the muzzling and tieing up
of dogs will rather have the effect
of producing the disease than OF pre-
venting it. We think that the medical
fraternity will c~orroborate us in this
statement. 1t is essential to the health
of the dog that he be permitted plenty
of exercise; otherwise, he becomes
cross. t~reacherouS, savage and dis
eaSed.
Humphreys, the veterinarian, tells
us hi rabies, or canine Madness, is
attributable to want of care, deficient
water in hot weather, intense heat or
cold etc. If left to himself and prop
eriy cared for the dog will avoid all
these conditions to which rabies are
attributable; but if chained or muz-
zled he is powerless to help himself
or take the natural precautions when
he would do against disease. mis-
with his owners careleSSneSS, lgno-
rance or financial inability to care for
him, to see that he is properly housed,
fed and watered, will bring about the
exact conditions that he would avoid
those that produce the rabies.
1.-The proper remedy is not in the pun
ishment or m"altreatment of the dog,
but in the of his numbers
Kidding the community of the thou-
sands of worthless ours that are I'M
cared for and permitted to roam the
streets. A muzzling or claiming up or
dinance will have no effect on this class
of dogs; it will only affect the properly
cared for and we'll treated dog, from
which no danger is to be ap~prehended.
The worthless cur Will continue 10
roam and be a menace to. the puDllc.
His owner don't care a cuSS s1of the
dog or for the authorities. The eXpe-
rience of the past thirty days has
demonstrated that fact. We nave seen as
many unmuzzled dogs on the streets
as muzzled dogs, those that were muZ-
zIed being well cared for pets or val
liable hunting logs and the unmuz-
zIed ones being mongrel ours.
I'VE are informed that under an
old law you have the power to impose
any tax you see fit on dogs, ana we
submit that in the proper exercise OF
this power is the solution of the prop
lem. Impose heavier tax, with a nne
against the owner for non-listing, and
! a death penalty against h dog, ana
YOU will soon rid the community OF all
danger. The owners of the valuable
dogs will pay this tax IL the Dog De
worth it: if not, he will send him TO
sorhe friend in the country. The owner
of 1.-THE worthless cur will realize that
hi4 cur is not worth the tax ana wiii
rid himself of it rather than be sub
Hee,ted 70 the fine to be imposed. Thus,
theI a remarkably short time-mucn
p0r