The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-20

At the Instance Of the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia department in
struction was sent by the State Depart
ment to certain consular officers in Eu-
rope. asking whether dogs are required to
be muzzled in foreign cities. and if the
results have proved satisfactory. In reply
| Consul General Mason writes from Berlin:
In Berlin. Frankfort, and. so far as
know or can ascertain, in all cities and
| large towns of Germany. dogs are required
| to be muzZled whenever they are on the
street or public place. and this regula-
| ton is enforced in cities even when the
| dog is led or held in leash by the owner,
| or is harnessed for working purposes to
| cart or other vehicle.
In Berlin every dog is subject to a tax
OF sac per annum. When this tax is paid
| the dog is registered and the owner re-
| ceives a small brass disk bearing the reg
istered number of the animal. which must
thenceforth be worn on its collar The alb
sence Of either number or muzzle subjects
the dog, when outside the enclosed prem
lses or its owner, to immediate seizure by
the dog police. who are a special branch
OF the municipal police appointed and quail
lied for that purpose.
Inc Berlin ordinance covering this sub
Ject was enacted many years ago. but was
amended to its present form on March :
1873 The following is a translation of
section Z, which relates to the penalties
That apply to dogs found in the streets or
pubic places without muzZles. the fine for
each offence which does not involve will
iuI intent or neglect on the part of the
owner being 10 cents:
Dogs not wearing Inuzzles and valid
TAX certlncates found ia public places are
. in -
| conditions named hereinafter do not ex-
ist.
The muZzle must be fastened around
the mead according TO prescribed rule. IL
the muZzle hangs down from the neck. IL
Is to be considered as if it did not exist.
he capture of dogs with defective
muzzles is permitted only when the defect
or INJURY TO the muzzle leaves it possible
for the dog to bite
Disputes and differences of opinion
between the dog-catching official and the
leader OF the dog are decided upon de-
mand at the nearest police station
Dogs which are not three months old
ere Eot to be seized
AS in many instar II is impossible
10 ascertai nthe exact age Of such a dog.
the animal Is TO be seized only when there
can be no doubt as to the age Of the dog
The effect Of these regulations has
been to practically exterminate stray and
useless dogs, TO restrict the dogs actually
Kept % to those Of fine race owned by
people IN easy circumstances. % TO those
kept Tor hunting, and CD TO those Lsed
as working animals by milkmen. market
men. butchers. peddlers. etc. in or near
towns and cities
The ordinance is enforced with IN
swerying rig0r and impartiality"
Consul General Osborne responds from
London that he submitted the questions OF
the department. 10 the Board OF AgricuI-
ture, and they sent him COPY Of the rabies
acts and tabular statement Of the nur,,
Der or cases IN London during 1897. 1898
and 1899, Showing that the operations OF |
the board. following upon the steps which |
had been taken by the local authorities O; !
London 70 eradicate the disease. We're al
tended WIKI such success that no case Of /
rabies has occurred within the area during /
the past year The regulations govern |
ing the muzzling OF dogs are summarized /
as follows. l-
Any unnuzzled dog found BY the no |
lice in public place not under the con-
troll OF any person and not wearing 4 COT l
lar wiz the name and address Of the
owner. viii be seized by the police. and /
the owner VIII be liable to penalty NOT /
exceeding SQ+.-
mo dog shall be allowed to be in or
On any public place unless such dog Is
muzzled with y strong cage muzzle, SO con
structed as TO repder il impossible for the
dog 10 bite. but SC as not to prevent II
breathing freely or tapping water
Any dog not muzzled may be seized |
and 4 diseased il shall be slaughtered. If !
suspected, It shall be detained or dealt
with as the council thinks expedient; If
II is not diseased or suspected il shall be
detained Tor three days. and, if not then
claimed by the owner. shall be slaughtered
or disposed CT as the council deems expe-
hent. In addition TO any penalty the own
Pr may De liable to for a breach of these |
regulations, all expenses connected with |
5uch detention may be recovered from the
owner
apply:
TO any dog under the control of anv
person and wearing a collar upon which |
ne name and address Of the owner are
egibly inscribed
To sheep dogs with shepherd and |
n charge of sheep.
To dogs being taken to or from ex-
lloitlons. shows. or other places. II con-
med IN boxes. cages. or hampers so con-
'tructed as to render 1t impossible for |
hem TO bite.
To packs of hounds while being used
or sporting purposes or while being ex-
rcised under the control Of servants of the
iunt.
The expression public place in these
equations includes any street. thorough !
are. bridge, park, garden or pleasure !
ground, unenclosed land. or other place to |
which the public for the time being has ac- Z
,ess." "''' a.