Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-09-06
Pet Animals.

tHc keeping OF pet animals is one way
to develop the humane instincts OF
/ people in general. Like other prac
tees, however, this one is good only
when IT is not abused, as it frequently
Is. When one considers the number
OF miserable little beasts yearly
trapped, captured, and bred in cages
Tor the amusement of mankind, it
seems as if some better method of
amusement might be devised
or course. there are people who
make friends and companions Of their
pets, and although nobody can be alb
solutely certain about animal psychol-
ogy, 1t may be that the dog. horse or
bird, derives an amount of pleasure
from contact with the superior mind
which more than repays the loss Of
freedom. In the case of highly bred
dog or saddle horse it is almost GER
tain that this is so. But these are in
the minority when the whole number
of domesticated animals is considered.
In the first place, it is certainly
cruelty to take a wild creature out of
its natural environment and place it
in cage where it can have little exer-
else, no natural companionship, and
often no suitable food. II is entirely
possible for people living in country
town, or small village, to tame squir-
rels, birds and other wild things with.
out in the least interfering with their
freedom, if they choose to use little
patience. Most wild animals will
come where they are not afraid of be-
ing hurt. The red squirrel can be
coaxed to come from his hole and eat
grain from the hand OF human being,
and birds of all kinds are easily tanned
in the same way. One who has once
enjoyed the delight of winning the
confidence of the voolfolk will never
again wish to keep any Of them in
cage.
The animal which is bred for the
purpose of domestication, like the lap
dog. the Persian cat, the white mouse,
or the canary, is usually inferior in in
telligence to the wild animal, for the
very good reason that it does not need
as much brains to be fed. petted and
put to sleep, as to get ones living in
the midst Of throng Of enemies.
There are two ways, however, in which
the keeping of these animals can be
made really beneficial to children and
adults: one is by making companions
of them, developing all the intelli.
gence they have, and the other is by
choosing pets Of sort whose intelli-
sence is already considerable. Child
rem should be encouraged 10 be kind
to their pets and to make friends with
them, and this cannot be done unless
there is intelligence on the other side.
If the comfort and well-being Of the
animal is studied. it will be good for
the master as we'll ~ the pet, for al
truism generally works in that way,
but candor will compel most people to
admit that nothing of the kind is usu-
ally done.
Unless proper care is taken Of cap
tive pets, their environment Is nothing
less than criminal. The writer has in
mind . beautiful canary, that was
kept in . cage hanging from low
ceiling in the kitchen, where all the
heat and fumes Of the stove arose to
torture the poor little prisoner.
When the fact was discovered by hui
name neighbor, that his plumage had
darkened from smoke, and the water
in his cup had become stagnant from
neglect, the only reply was "Well. I
haven't time to attend to my house
work and pets too"
This was an instance where organ
lied effort should intervene, for . wo-
man who has not the brain, to say
nothing of heart, TO spend few mo-
ments daily in caring for the comfort
of the humblest Of Gods creatures,
should be compelled to allow them at
least the liberty Of caring for them
selves.
Oily apprapriates rs editorial fling
Of the N. Y. Sun at the Virginia De-
mocracy for expressing sym patby with