Evening journal., 1902-07-03
noe LAWS


Persons having respect for the feel
ings Of dumb animals must experience
a twlnge of pity when they see the
dogs of Wilmington, big and little, gem
tie and savage, spending their time
with mouths Gagged up to keep them
from biting. It is the law, and it must
be respected. Every little while there
is a scare, and the cry OF "mad-dog'
puts everyone in a panic, and then wei
rush in and levy dog taxes engage
catchers and provide for muzzling. Re
Gently in Wilmington a number of per-
sons were bitten by a dog said to be
suffering from rabies, and instantly
there was a demand for some protective
measures 1t is frequently said THAT
There are hundreds of worthless ours
that ought TO be shot, and there is a
feeling that effective taxation will re-
duce the nuisance to a minimum, but
who is competent TO say that a dog lis
worthless? We would spare the aristo-
cratic st. Bernards and Royal Danes
but the little. disreputable yellow ours
boasting no proud strain of blood are
compelled to run the gauntlet for their
Lives.
Now most of these animals are loved
by somebody. The social outcast of
dogdom may have a safe retreat in the
hearts of a half dozen ragged children.
Perhaps through the animal they have
discovered the possibility of love and
constancy But the dog-catcher comes
swooping down and gathers in their pet
and there is a tragedy. They have no
dollar for the purpose Of redemption,
and so their friend goes TO execution.
Many a. man has but one friend on
earth. his dog. He knows that this
animal will forgive all neglect, and
even brutality, will put up with his
lhumors and yet remain faithful. We all
know these animals and rejoice in some
close personal friendships in the canine
world, and yet we make laws for their
discomfort, and which tend to their ex-
Termination.
The reason is given that we are
afraid Of rabies, but perhaps our idea
that the other fellows dog is worthless
has something TO do with it. Now it
is fact that many learned scientists
declare that there is no such disease as
l rabies; that il Is a form of violent hys-
= terra that is due to the imagination.
But whether or not this is true, hydro
E lphobia is admittedly the rarest disease
d dlknown. We send persons to Pasteul
r institutes as a matter Of precaution
& when they have been bitten by dog
showing any popularity. They return
y l"cured." ." but there is no certainty tina
they we're really theatened by the dis
:. lease. There is another prevalent ide'
that needs to be dissipated, that tn
l"dog" days, or the summer months, ar
" peculiarly dangerous. as at this tim
the animals are more liable to be al
II fected by rabies. It is another fallacy
8 there are no dog" days in this sens'
st Frequently animals, mot and sufferin
Is for water, are deemed mad, and huma
lr beings would show similar symptom
UT under the same condition. All ths
az most mad dogs need is to be tied
the shade and given a drink of wat'
nv land to- be allowed to recover. When
of dog acts strangely, there is usually l
,,o necessity for creating a scare and shoe
"a ing it. If the same treatment were a
{, piled to men it would result in EXTERN
- nation. These animals should be be
y" ter treated. and that is the most cryiI
- reed.