Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
CANINE BATH. HOUSE
A NEW INSTITUTION IN WASH
INGToN.
Dogs Steamed in the Turkish Fashion,
Secured and Washed-Not
Fad.

In this modern age of development in
every line inventive man has not over
looked the comfort of his best dumb
friends-the horse and the dog. For years
there have been hospitals where sick dogs
and cats could be taken for repairs, and
the summer home" for the pet bow-wow
and the gentle tabby, where they could
be left during vacation time with feel
ing of absolute assurance that they would
be well cared for, Is an institution Of long
standing. But the absolute scientific clean
Illness of dogs is a matter that has re-
ceived only recent attention.
In one of the prominent thoroughfares
uptown. where handsome residences are In
terspersed with shanties and novels, pass
ers-by have recently been surprised to see
a sign bearing the following inscription:
Turkish Baths For Dogs"
"Why should not dogs be kept as clean
as human beings, when the relations OF
dog and his master are 80 closer was
the query Of the old man claiming proprie-
torship Of the establishment to that Of
The Star reporter seeking information.
"A Turkish bath house for dogs Is no
more of a fad than are the hospitals for
different animals scattered throughout the
city.
Necessity for Frequent Baths.
Before showing you through the estab-
lishment," continued the proprietor. you
should understand that it is necessary for
a dog to have Il bath as often at least
as every seventh day, and this Is particu-
larly true in the case of spaniels, collies
Newfoundlands and st. Bernards Just an
ordinary tub Of water and cake OF soap
in the hands of person unfamiliar with
the proper manner of handling dog
never accomplishes the purpose. and 1t Is
simply foolish to try such experiments II
one has any regard for the perfect health
and cleanliness of the pet. Experience
has demonstrated to me that thoroughly
steaming an animal is the only way In
which to eradicate the dirt that accumu-
lates. for. dogs not having pores and there
fore not perspiring, there comes after
time such crust of dirt upon their bodies
that they necessarily become Ill from its
effects Once thoroughly steamed and
cleaned it is a comparatively easy matter
to keep an animal clean by repeating the
process"
The first room into which The Star re-
porter was conducted was lined with cages
containing dogs Of various breeds await
ing their turns for the bath and keeping
up a jubilee of bowls. Some sounded like
walls of despair as of one going into a
peril they knew not Of while others were
emitting cries of joy in anticipation of
pleasures into which they had been init
ated. The temperature of this room was
of such degree as to prepare the canine
bathers for a warmer region to come, and
many were the pink tongues that hung
from listless laws.
There were facilities in the next room for
bathing but two dogs at a time. In the
center Of what would be known in Turk
ish bath room for men as the steam room
were two shining white porcelain-lined
square bath tubs, one two feet deep by four
feet square for the st. Bernards, and the
other barely two feet square and less than
twelve inches deep for the little lap dogs
In this room there were also showers con-
tanning hot and cold water
The Manner of Bathing.
The manner Of giving dog Turkish
bath is much the same as that of giving one
to man. The dog Is given certain degree
of heat and is then placed in a tub of
water which is few degrees hotter than
the temperature registered on a thermom-
eter placed against his body. He Is thor
oughly rubbed with liquid soap and
secured with a heavy brush until from the
point Of his nose to the tip of his tail he is
one mass Of lather. The animal is then taken
to the shower, where hot water is turned
on and gradually cooled until it reaches
a temperature about that Of water as It
runs from the cold spigot in an ordinary
bath room, and then he is pitched into a
pool for a few minutes swim. He is then
allowed to come out and shake himself.
after which the driers take hold Of him
ana give MIN thorough ruDD1ng down ana
drying out with Turkish bath towels. and
each dog Is allowed just as many clean
towels for his personal use as his owner has
provided for him. After an alcohol rub
down the dog shows every sign Of feeling
his oats" and appears to feel as fit as
man who has enjoyed a similar experience.
Precautions Taken.
Although some of the dogs take to the
bath as a duck to water, others cause no
end of trouble. AS matter of self-pro-
lection and without paying the last atten-
ton to the statements of dog owners the
attendants take no chances Each dog as
it Is brought in, and while the owner or
caretaker is present to keep 1t quiet, is
carefully fitted with muzzle
Sometimes 1t is necessary to tie the legs
of the animal together.
Ordinarily we do not have much trouble
in giving a dog a bath after the first ex-
perience," said the proprietor of the estab-
lishment. but we do have some very funny
things happen"
Dog fanciers say that, although the new
Turkish bath for CANNES is an innovation
and fills need long appreciated, the matter
Of giving pet dog a weekly bath at home
soon becomes one of moment and has fire.
quently caused servants to give up their
places. The public bath house steps in and
relieves the owners of pets Of much an