The times., 1899-08-14
QUICK DEATH FOR Dogs
The District Poundmasters Busy
Season Has Now Arrived.
Between Three and Four Thousand
CANNES Are Annually Asphyxiafed
Through the Medium of Carbonic
Oxide CASA More Humane and
Cheaper Method Than the old One.

With the advent of dog days the atten-
ton of the local Health officer is being
attracted toward the pound where the
CANNES captured in various parts of the city
are detained and killed During this sea-
son of the year more dogs are captured
than usual and the -Poundmaster, Samuel
Einstein, is in the height of his busy sea-
son replying to queries relative to captured
CANNES, and arranging for the death Of
those not claimed within twenty y-four
hours after their arrival at the pound
The public does not come in contact
with this very necessary municipal insti-
tuition often inasmuch as it is in an out
of the-way location at the intersection of
Twenty third Street and New York
Avenue northwest, and few persons realize
that between three and four thousand dogs.
mongrels of every kind and condition and
of high and low degree, are killed at the
pound annually.
The records OF the Poundmaster do not
extend back further than fifteen years;
and il is impossible to tell just how many
dogs have been put TO death since the in
stitution was established, but during the
period of record about 10000 dogs have
been killed. Until last September the at
taches of the pound were required TO shoot
each dog. The work was exceedingly re-
pulsive, and Dr. Woodward, after con-
sultation with Poundmaster Einstein, de-
cided to install an asphyxiation chamber.
Such apparatus has been used largely in
other cities, principally the more progress
siye ones and DIR. Woodward thought that
expense, as well as time, might be saved
by installing one of the chambers here,
and at the same time the CANNES might be
destroyed more humanely.
Accordingly one hundred dollars was
spent about this time last year construct
ing large asphyxiatien chamber for the
proposed experiment. The apparatus was
ready for use early in September and on the
18th day of that month a trial of the new
system was made. Thirty-two dogs were
killed on the first day and the experiment
is regarded as success. The asphyxiation
method has been used at the pound ever
since last September, and the health au-
thorities are exceedingly gTatified over its
success. About 5000 dogs have been as
phyxiated in the gas chamber OF the ap-
paratus since last September. During the
summer months the average is between
twenty and forty dogs day. One day last
week thirty eight dogs were killed in the
gas chamber.
Fifty dogs can be killed at time. The
expense is slight, and the animals do not
suffer. One minute after they enter the
gas chamber they tumble over gasp for
breath, and die. Carbonic oxide gas, gen
Grated at the pound from charcoal is used
in the apparatus. II has to be made fresh
every day, but costs only fifteen cents each
time. Under the old. method bullet was
required for every dog, and the cost was
just one cent bullet. The records of the
Health Department show that ten dollars
was paid for every 1000 bullets, but since
the installation of the new apparatus this
expense has been done away with and a
charge of from ten TO fifteen gents day
entered for gas. ~
Dr. Woodward and Poundmaster Einstein
are alike pleased with the success of their
experiment and will devote considerable
space TO the departure In their annual re-
ports for the past fiscal year,
Dog days begin tomorrow, the middle of
August being recognized as the opening of
that warm, sultry summer period. The
dog star, Sirius, rises with the sun during
dog days. and, astronomically speaking, dog
days begin with the day when the great
star of the CAMS Major constellation rises
out Of the eastern skies simultaneously
with the sun. During dog days special care
is taken 10 capture all tramp dogs and
CANNES without tags owing to the fear of
rabies. and this is one reason why the
duties OF the Poundmaster are heavier than
usual now.
second reason is that many persons
surrender their dogs to the District during
July and August. The first day of every
July marks the opening of a new fiscal
year when new dog tags have to be pur-
chased by persons desirous OF keeping their
canine pets. Policemen make a house to-
house inspection during July and August
and all persons who have failed to purchase
tags are either required TO surrender the
dog or purchase a tag for it. The majority
of persons give UP their dogs The number
of tags sold this year is estimated at about
y