The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18
THAT DOG LAW.

BE is poor stick of man, Mr. Editor,
who cannot cay something against cog
In some sections and with some people the
very name "dos" has long teen a term OF
reproacb ; so hen it ia opsble that the
passing of law against dogs will not be a
difficult matter. Before it is done, however,
want 20 rise 10 defense of them. haye a
vogue idea that to muzz'e or con6ne some OF
our foot.loose people will accomplish more
fer our community than to muzzle and cou-
6ne the dogs Fer Is years, have not
heard of a mad Cog biting aoy one 10 Sum
ter. Such calamity may have be:allen
some one in the couctry, but have not
beard of the accident happening to auy one
iu town Why this is, cannot tell but ii
is certain that dog law which will not pro-
tect US against the visits Of the beas's from
abroad oil do very little good TO or citi-
zens. If We ere to have law. then, to pro-
tect us against mad dogs. | suggest that We
90 back to the sncient method, and build u
wall around our town, go as to keep out the
furious (?) beasts which are threatening our
happiness
am Inclined to think our honorable board
of aldermen will oot find the law az popular
as some of them imagine. So1e Of US love
6oes, and have about cone to cay With Mr.
Sam Jones, "The more see of men, the Set
ter | like dogs A dog is mans osst
friend-about The only friend the average
nan has that is willing to die with him or
for him, aud wheo s;rioge>s legislation is
enacted coccernirg our friends and pe:s, the
result will be O constant irritation that will
not be altogether pleaeaEt to our law makers.
II is true that. as far SIS possible, man
should keep his dogs within his owo enclos-
ore ,hiuk ce: persons Try to do thai;
bat the auimal being natural wanderer aud
a fret class sc4veager, it is very difficult 10
confne him within fixed area. IL soDe
sections, the law requires that the 6ops shall
be muzzed if allowed on The streets This
is a hard law and is the climax Of cruelty
A dog suffers torture from fsas when unable
to defend himself With bis teeth, and SC crush
them oat
Really l think We are suffering from un-
necessary fright. Rumors of mad dogs Sill
the air now and then OF lste, tbese ramors
have prevailed above measure. Not only
have we been nearing of ned dogs, but of
various and sundry "varmin.s which ear
dogs. These, too, are a5road, snd we ehcu!d
oar forests are infested With ell manner of
evil beasts, aod if our honorah,e law makers
are goag to protect us aeainet one set Of
auimals, we beg them to make the protection
per.ect, aod ioclude also the fearful mon
sters which are said TO be roamiog the for.
ests, devouriug as they go
But for the consolation Of our distressed
people. beg leave to say that the really mad
dog is very scarce article Dogs are sr5ject
to sone CT the same brain troubles which
afflict men q ten psn hos brain trouble,
aud suffers from temporary derangemot, we
give him nedicioe and seek 10 cure biu
wben dog has like trouble, we decide 10
kill him, ard then con6ue or mrzz'e hls
whole race. and 50 contribute what we can TO
euper,ndrce other similar troubles. Within
q few DAYS, friecd told ne of a mad dog
which assailed man, and it Glanced that
the man ran into gate, and caugh: The dog S
bead between the gate ard the post, While
be vas secured, e secoud man comes on the
ground, and brains the brute with club
From his broken head there poured out
Cow Of 6i,hy matter, showing clearly ihnt
the poor dog had merely been suffering with
some disease Of ,5e brain waich had frenzisd
him with suferiog Statistics show that
ONLY abolt ore half Of those ~ho are biften
by dogs with rabies ever develop anything
like madness, ard an satisfied that mutt
tuces Of pocr orutes woich are Killed are
rather sick than msd
honestly believe our Jaw makers are ez-
pending their euergies 10 the wrong direc-
ton Mad doas are not nearly 60 itjuricGs
as vicious men and women
Samter, April is, 1900