The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21
DOG owners ORGANIZE
The Muzzling Ordinance TO BE Com
batted in the Courts.
Members of The New Association
CriticIse the Action of the Commits
Conduct Test Cnse-Nany Ladies
rPesent nj the Meeting Last Night.

rPcscnt at the Meeting Last Night
The Dogowners' Association Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia" with the ayowed OBJ
ject OF securing relief from the unpopular
muzzling order Of the Commissioners. was
organized last night at Washington Hal,
corner OF Third and Pennsylvania Avenue
southeast. with n membership of fifty and
a set of officers who promise to devote all
their energies in arousing the owners and
friends OF dogs in Washington TO acton.
The meeting was called at the instance
of T. Edward Clarke William Wagner, ard
few others who own dogs and desired to
secure the cooperation OF an other deg
owners in prosecuting their claims for re-
lief from the municipal authorities unp1p-
ular, and what is said TO be, uncalled for,
order. Many letters were received by Mr..
Clarke from persons throughout the city
when the purpose OF holding a meeting
was made known. a number of pecpie
sent in their names to be added TO any petit
ton which would be drawn up 10 be pre-
scented 10 the proper authorities. Besides
the publicity that was given the proposed
meeting through the newspapers. the deg
owners were canvassed as thoroughly as
POSSIBLE, and their views on the proposed
action Of the citizens were obtained 1t
was the unanimous opinion that the time
had come for the people of the District 10
assert their fights, and all endorsed the
project TO hold a mass meeting.
Therefore. despite the inclement weather
the hall was comfortably filed when MIR.
Clarke called the meeting to order shortly
-
which would call such an audience fIom
their comfortable homes on such a night
must indeed be near and dear TO the peo-
pie, and they certainly deserved the com
mendation and support of all right-minded
citizens of the District.
Gr. Clarke was elected chairman of the
meeting until a permanent organization
could be effected AT the conclusion of his
opening address he invited any of those
present TO present their views on the situa-
tion and the remedy which should be useS
TO alleviate the dogs from their suffering
and the citizens from the injustice that had
been done them.
E. NJ Sunderland responded TO the in
Nitation of the chairman and made a short,
sharp arraignment of the manner in which
the people had been treated by the Com
missioners and the unusual manner in
which the latter had tried 10 abridge the
rights of the taxpayers OF the District.
If the Commissioners had made the proper
increase In the force from the Pound
masters Office in the first place there would
have been TO occasion for muzzlng or any |
like precautions. The Poundmaster would |
have captured all the tramp dogs in the |
city long before there was a chance for |
an outbreak of hydrophobia he said and |
all this tumult and righteous Indignation |
would not have been aroused. The muzzle |
order works a hardship on the dog the /
speaker continued; it cramps his mouth |
and causes him TO perspire about the lips |
in such manner as to irritate and render |
liabie TO disease any dog, no matter how |
well bred he might be.
Mr.. Sunderland stated that as a result |
OF the muzZle order his dog was now suf- |
fering from a pulmonary disease The |
cause OF the disease IS in the inability
Of the dog 10 open his mouth and breathe /
The animal was not dangerously
il, the speaker said, but he was not in
;ood condition. and appeared TO be suffering
greatly.
George A. Hill said that he did not see
the justice In securing a tag for a dog
which did not protect IL. over $4,000 is
spent annually by the citizens of the Dis
Irict on dog licenses. the speaker said,
which did not in any way help the citi-
,ens or afford the dog immunity from the
hands Of the INSCRIPTIONS citizen who
could not or would not pay for a tag,
but preferred to steal one from the collars
Of a licensed canine.
With regard to hydrOphobia. Mr.. Hill
said, few people know what il is. and as
{ is very slow In developing i; would be
lifficuit for the owner to allow his dog 10
become infected with the disease without
his knowledge and without his using some
means TO prevent its maturity and spread
before ii had fully developed
J. b. Chamberlain said he had read a
great deal about rabies, or hydrophobia.
Turing the last few weeks, and from what
he had seen and tcsrd he did not believe
such disease ever existed, or that anyone
could state positively just what was and
was not rabies. This fact would seem 10
be borne out by the action of the health
authorities of Philadelphia in offering d
reward Of 500 for a dog that was found
within the confines OF his Jurisdiction suf-
Iering with hydrophobia. The reward was
offered long time ago. Mr.. Chamberlain
said, and has never been claimed.
II was brought out that the muzzle was
-ather provocative Of the disease. as it ir-
-itated and annoyed the dog so that in a
ew days after wearing IL he would be-
-ome nervous and restless and would snap
md snarl at his master. What the city
leeded was license that was license: 4
protection for dogs that protected. The
'oundmaster should be instructed to catch
md Kin all the common worthless ours |
hat throng the streets, and in doing away
with these nuisances he would do away
With all danger to the respectable dogs !
nd the people OF the city dog with
It's is often thought 10 have a case Of
abies. II the people were educated and !
made 10 know the causes of disease and
he remedies, Ii would not be necessary To
ssue proclamations and thereby cause sui |
ering among the dogs and their owners.
At the conclusion Of MIR. Chamberlain's |
ddress ID. w. Keck stated that he be-
ieved II would be TO the best interest Of
he persons present at the meeting to or
.anize themselves and present united |
runt when they started their fight for the
light Of the dogs.
He therefore presented a resolution |
fhich provided for the establishment Of |
he Dog Owners Association OF the Dis
riot OF Columbia. The papers prepared |
y Mr.. Keck provided that:
Whereas the Commissioners % the District Of | ,
olunbia are collecting license tax upon dogs
nder the authority Of unconstitutional act,
nd have issued obnoxious aud opf,r,ssive |
1zling order in the snowtime and in various
avs show disposition TO opprer4 holders Of
roperty IN dogs, therefore be Il
Resolved That the owners and friends q dogs ;
ire IN meeting assembled form tbenseiyes into | J
. association 20 be known az the Dog twners' | {
ssoolstion OF the District oi Columbia for the | {
lrpose oil Intending our property rights in dogs Y
The paper further provided that the Of !
GERS OF the association should be o presi S
ent, two vice presidents, a secretary. a
treasurer, and an executive committee OF j
hree lay members, with the president OF 7
he association as ex ofiicio chairman
H. .t..sF.