Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-11
SHOULD GEORGIA
HAVE A DOG LAW?

To the Editor Of The Journal:
Dr. Galen Wilson, a famous farm jour
nalist of New York state, has been devot-
ing a large amount of his writings TO the
advocacy of sheep and cattle raising In
the south. He Is acquainted, practically
and scientifically with the conditions Of
sheep and cattle farming, and he constd-
ers the south an ideal section for such
work on account of the vast areas of
waste lands on which sheep especially
would thrive. In addition to this favorable
item It is noted that but very little extra,
care need be given them in winter in the
south.
The time has come when the south must
advance it's every line of industry. 1t must
develop it's agricultural interests as well
as it's commerce and manufactures, for 1t
is a we'll understood fact that agriculture
forms the basis Of commerce and manu-
facture.
The cattle raising industry is progress
ing rapidly except in the sheep business,
and the cause Of this can be definitely
stated. So far as COWS, hogs, etc, are
concerned, the rail fence made Of timbers
Of the Georgia pine makes a satisfactory
pasture fence, but sheep are mild, timid
creatures, and the rail fence serves to no
advantage in keeping of thieves in the
shape of sheep-killing dogs. and the
woven wire fences are too expensive to
suit the ideas Of the Georgia farmer Of
the present day.
When It becomes necessary 70 advance
the prosperity Of a section by the enact
ment of new laws, such laws should be
made without fear or favor, and likewise
enforced. A couple Of years ago the leg
islature passed the local option dog law"
and in many counties 1t was quickly
adopted, only to be repealed by the next
session of the legislature because some
body had set up a howl about the unjust
tax.
If a dog is OF value to justify any one
in keeping it on the premises, II is of
enough value to Justify the state in i'm
posing a tax, and in SO cases out Of 100 the
possessor of a really valuable dog viii
more than willingly pay the tax.
On the other hand, many negroes land
white people, as for that keep a pack Of
half-starved hounds that prey upon the
few scattered 1ocks of sheep, nests of
eggs and whatever else they find that they
can get at. Say tax" to this class and
you hear a howl and yelp.
Back to the days when prosperity
bloomed and the south fed itself, I am
told. it was a serious offense against an
unwritten law for one to keep a sheep
killing dog. These ''unwritten laws were
strictly enforced, but in the course Of
time the multiplicity of cases tired out the
good people and they gave up the good
A couple of weeks before the grand Jury
Of our county met after the passage Of
the dog law I wrote to our local paper:
Most of our citizens favor the passing
of the law. 1t is a great satisfaction to
think that some day there will not be a
half-starved dog hunting for your hens
nest in the wood; that the children won't
forever be in danger Of being mutilated
by some stray rabid cur; that as you pass
along the highways no NANCY, half-fed
rabbit hound will greet you at every
cabbage patch and cottage.
Here I will add that some argument
may be put forth in the increase of the
rabbit, but I will say that on the sheep
ranges of California they have no dogs
of any consequence. Still, they have the
large rabbit, noted for its fecundfty. which
is Systematically dealt with. giving scarce
ly any trouble"
Our grand jury heartily and unani-
mously" endorsed the dog law, and only
the new year was to be awaited in order
to put 1t in force, but it was repealed ere
the time came.
Now DR.. Wilson tells us that we must
either get rid of the dogs or get a dog
proof fence, and then the way is open to
make Georgia a great sheep state. No ar
gument to the contrary can be put forth
for information from every section goes
to show that sheep raising even on a
small scale is profitable in spite of fire.
quent depredations by sheep-lulling dogs
How much more profitable can It be made
by making the dog taxable property. the
owner liable for damages just as though
his COW had destroyed a corn field.
Let Georgia legislators study this. There
is no question as to the constitutionality
Of the matter. Cities tax dogs, and rural
communities surely can do the same so
far as the constitution is concerned.
RHEA HAYNE