The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-18


man is fool who for one moment enter
tains the idea that muzzie is a pre-
ventive of anything harmful 1t is e
greatest irritaDt ! know, and cond zee s
more to canine madness than any other
cause"
H. H. Darneille, the District Assessor.
said he did not know that his CD Mon On
the subject was worth much. but he was
willing TO give it "My view of the qrez-
ton is that people who own dogs wnt
the muzzle order abolished, while those
who do not own them want it continued,
and / own dog
]. B. Chamberlin, 631 Sixth S rect north
east, authorized a statement as follows:
1T is not an established fact that tie G
has ever been death from Cog bite in
the District. Many cases are on record
OF persons having died from blood poison
as the result of a scratch. Logi: ally.
therefore, 1t would be as rational to in
sist on rounding the points of all pins as
to insist on muzzling all dogs.
Good dogs do not bite. The bite of a
healthy dog is not serious. Muzz.es make
irritable. cross dogs, which might BITE.
Muzzles make unhealthy dogs. the bite Of
which might be serious. To muzzle g
effectually is extreme cruelty, and an in
effectual muzzle is ridiculous. II is wicked
and vicious to stimulate an unto iuded
dread of dogs in the minds of tim people,
as is done by some city papers"
Walter c. Allen, District Electrical En-
gineer, said:
THE question of extending the muz-
cling order it seems to me ought to rest
on the fact of the existence of rabies in
the District and the Commissioners should
look to the Health Department for infor
nation on that point"
William n Woman h1h II Street north
west. stated that he had been obliged to
dispose Of his dogs on account Of the muz-
cling order. IF / had dog" he con-
tinued. Il would stand the penalty before
l would muzzle him. 1t is an abominable
institution, and ! am bitterly antagonist!c
to it. II anything would give dog hydro
pho5ia it would be a muzzle In hot
weather."
Harry c. Moses, Eleventh and F Streets
northwest. said:
"A muzzIe is torture II serves to irri-
tate dog beyond all endurance, and will
drive him to the verge or into madness
1t is menace to his health in preventing
proper respiration. II is not preventive
OF rabies, but rather provocative I have
never known dog-owner yet who en-
doreed the muzzle as productive of any
desirable end"
Musxles Rad for Dogs.
W. NJ. Mooney, 725 Nineteenth Street
northwest, gave his opinion as follows:
''Muzzles are approved by veterinarians
because muzzles make sick dogs and sick
dogs make business for veterinarians. II
this order is to continue, the Commission
ers will find the revenue from tags will
fall far short Of last year. ! have owned
dogs all my life and have never seen a
mad dog that had been well-fed and cared
for. When an owner OF dog wishes him
to become vicious or cross, he chains him
and keeps him confined. and the muzzle will
have the same effect. AS many dog own
ers are too humane to muzzle the pets,
they prefer to shut them up in house or
stable, and give them what little exercise
they can at night
DR.. Cecil French gave this statement:
THE success OF the muzzle law in Eng
land Is not due to the muzzling of dog
as a preventive of rabies. In England the
muzzle is a means of identifying dogs of
respectable ownership, and serves the same
purpose as our license tegs used in this
country. Owners of unlicensed dogs in
England are liable to a fine of SiGO, which |
compels everyone who prizes his dog to
pay the regular tax. in order to avoid this |
penalty. Such dogs are muEzled. and are |
easily identified by that means. Other |
dogs are at once seized and put in pound. |
The tag system is quite sufficient if an |
efficient force of pound masters have their |
duties extended to cover the English sys-
tenn of seizing all stray dogs. The muzzle |
is a thoroughly barbarous method and |
does not effect the purpose for which II |
was intended. Muzzles are so adjusted by |
humane dog-owners that there is net one
muzzled dog in the city but could bite II |
be SO desired
Mrs. Clara Matthews. 10 Thirteenth |
Street northeast, thinks the muzzle null
sance to the dog, ami the dog nuisance
to humanity. What is needed she said,
is not the muzzle, but laws which prohibit
the keeping of dogs by irresponsible Eco
pie who do not care for them properly.
To that end she would make the dog tax
IS year. would increase the pound service
to efficiency, so as to capture and kill
every untagged dog seen in the streets
If necessary Il would deal with the
owner and not with the dog, making the
keeping of an unlicensed dog punishable
by fine of $685." said Mrs. Matthews.
Some such measure as that, and not the
should be resorted to as a means
Of Kidding Washington of rabies"