The sun., 1901-07-07
DOG ESTRAYSATTHE POUND
THEfR NUMBER INCRgAsED AZ, THE
WEATHER GROWS WARY

THETR NUNBER INCRsAsED AZ, TIE
WEATHER GROWS WARY
People whs Abandon Their Pets when Ttcy
Go late the Coantry-Itkabie Dogs Await
ias Absent Mastsrs-A Canine Buliy-Doss
That Arc Happy nsfors Death.
The Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
to Animals says that there are no days
on the calendar that should properly be
known as dog days. So the canine race
Is not to he held responsible for last week 8
weather; but even without that insult.
II has enough troubles Of it's owp.
Dogs are subject to varied assortment
Of diseasss. and hot weather adds to their
misery. Then. too. the list Of homeless
and forsaken dogs grows to great propor-
tlons at this season. Many families leaving
town for the summer turn their pets loose
upon the community to starve or to find
their way to the pound. which prefers now
adays to be called the Animal Shelter.
Other owners. more thoughtful. notify
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Animals that they want to turn their
pets over to the society's care. and are
willing to s!gn a death slip" In such
cases, the Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Animals wagon calls for the
animal, and takes 1t to the shelter, and the
society either hnds a good home for II,
or gives 1t a painless death. As matter
Of fact the society is under no obligation
to run a private express business for this
purpose. and the owner o. the superfluous
animal 10 supposed TO deliver IT at the
shelter; but many individuals will not
take this trouble, and rather than have
the animal turned out to suffer. The society
will, If possible, send for 1t. AT this time
Of the year. from 900 to 400 calls day come
in to the society and it Is practically i'm
possible to respond promptly to all OF
them.
Tho dogcatcher is having busy days.
too. During June. 22l dogs and ,S3s cats
were taken to the pound; and, though
few were redeemed by owners and few
found new homes. most Of them have.
before this, discovered whether the here
after holds any reward Of merit for good
cat or dog. Forty eight hours Ia the ordi-
nary lease Of life at the pound. but valu-
able dog. or dog that is sound and well,
even II not aristocratic may have the forty
el8ht hours extendeu 10 ~Sh vi cVeh
These dogs are separated from the COM
mon horde OF the foredoomed and wait
for pardons, at one end OF the long build
ing, which, by the way. " swept and gar
nlshed until In point Of cleanliness and
sanitary condition. II would do credit TO
any bench show Clean sawdust ls sprink-
led over the floors Of the kennels. fresh
water IL In the white enamelled drinking
tubs. The air from off the river IL fresh
and cool. The dog food provided Is good
Altogether, II a dog has only forty-eieht
hours TO live. It's a question whether u could
put In that time more comfortably than
at the pound and TO many OF the mongrel
ours brought here their stay at the pound
Ia tholr nrst taste Of comfortable dog Dfe.
John Read who Is presiding gen'is OF
the pound, with Discretionary power Of
life and death. says that mary Of the dogs
are very happy They are supplied with
material comforts and have plenty of good
society-and your dog Ia a sociqbie beast.
They do not know that the gas tank is wait
ing for them next door, and they eat.
drink and are merry. Tomorrow they
die, but il doesn't hurt, and life. II pro-
trected would mean pain and indebtedness.
just now there are some most likablo
dogs in the kennels. One spaniel has been
there for some time. He has tho honor
OF being the oldest inhabitant, ard he Is
in no ,mmedatc danger OF the tank room.
iii, master hasn't deserted him: at least,
the desertion wasn't voluntary. II had
something to do with police court. and
the chances are that the master would
Willingly change quarters with his spaniel.
IL the prison authorities would permit
that Meanwhile he misses tie dog and
the dog misses him. Whenever mans
step sounds in the long echoing room,
the spaniel lifts his head aud listens. Then
he lies down again. In a discouraged way.
10 wait. lie doesn't need to see the stran-
gers face through the grating. The foot
master was sentenced for only short time.
and when thn jail opens its door, for the
man, tho pound will open It's doors for the
dog. and the two good comrades will 10
out into the world together. 4 all record
doesn't cut any hgure IN the affection Of
a spaniel.
There's a fox terrier in with the spaniel.
fox terrier that must have friend some
where. No man with heart under his
ribs could e., fox terrier like hat afri't.
rtre dog Ia confid.i tiy expecting eotoN
one TO turn up. Ne hasn't the athletic
pat,er 90 II the spaniel. He INIT In the
least depressed by lis situation. He look,
uoon The pound as an ineltent in a lively
and evtnfful career, ard he finds il c1-
cess,vely interesting. he. too. has n
touch OF excitement when any one cores
along. but il is only th, excitement accom-
panying new experience, not any 1eNtilsh
cayerncas to s.! cot master. II the master
comes the terrier will be glad TO SEQ hln.
and will promptly run away again The next
time tho wander list seizes him. More
lost fox terriers drift into tho pound then
los. dogs OF any other sort, but a large
percentage Of them are redeemed.
Next door to the spaniel and terrier Is
a fine St Bernard. with the dignity Of
Lord High Chancellor. He has waited
so,no time. much TO the surprise Of te
snpcrintendent, but. II the owner docsn
apn,nr there will be little trouble In finding
a home for 80 good dog.
Then there arc the large kennels full
of the rir-rail which has come in during
the preceding forty eight hours. and from
which the elect have not yet been sorted.
All sorts and conditions OF dogs are there,
with n strong leaning in favor OF the
tho-oughgonK monSrel. sprlnEIhg of
fox and skye terriers keeps fhc Kennels
lively, but IL offset by a iriezc Of 'tHh!-
eved, wheeling pugs hnddSd close to the
wall thin setter looks 81 the pa!'stt1-
by, out OF great melancholy eyes, and the
disappointment in those eyes human,
"a men come and go. and the right ono
doesn't appear.
cocker spaniel presses close TO tho
grating and gives little impatient moan
occasionally, but, as a rule the Kennels are
wonderfully uuia' Perhaps that ~ ac-
counted for by the fact that most OF the
dog, are more or less Ill and consequently.
not disDosad 10 be energetic. even IN dis
content The pound officials ssy that iuily
90 par cent Of the dogs taken 70 the pound
are either seriously diseased or so old that
they are a burden 10 themselves. In
either case, quiet death is a mercy