Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-19
THE DOG QUESTION.

In the light of recent events new
difficulty has been presented to the of
flclals of the city and the question aris-
ing is What shall be done with the
thousands of dogs running at large in
Wausau ~ The dog population now
nearly equals that of the human, and
they are becoming a nuisance. The
city officials have decided that some
legislation must be enacted to rid the
city of the ours ard will hold meeting
for that purpose this evening. One
man, we are told, proposes to introduce
a measure providing for tax of $500
on male CANNES and SIS % on females,
and compelling the owners to muzZle
their brutes, otherwise they will be
shot. Perhaps this will remedy the
evil, perhaps not A dog tax generally
proves as much of a nuisance as the
dogs themselves, as was proven three
years ago when such measure was
operative, or rather imperative.
Saturday evening, a large brute be-
longing to Dr. KitZki, bit child of Mr.
and Mrs. Fay Andrews, sinking its
tush In and penetrating clear through
the eye lid of the little one. There fol-
lowed heated discussion in which Fay
attempted little pugilism and the
police were called in to capture the
dog. The dog was taken to the city
hall, and yesterday morning Mr.. An
drews, with rifle, placed the animal
where he will do no further damage.
kitzki threatens suit against the city
Yesterday morning another dog, be-
longing to Ferdinand Zingler, on the
west side, bit child of the latter and
was promptly killed with club, and
other cases of like nature are cited by
the police.
We do not want q mad dog scare as
was experienced in Stevens Point and
Portage recently, and it therefore be-
hooves citizens and officials to do some
thing. Mayor Marchetti has issued the
following on the matter which will be
presented at the meeting of the council
tonight:
To the Honorable, the Common Council of
the City of WGetsau.
GENTLEMEN:-This meeting is called
to consider the present status of the
ordinance relating to the keeping of
dogs, and any remedial legislation, if
any is necessary.
Dogs have had the unlimited liberty
of4W ausau, under which state they have
multiplied to such an extent as to be-
come obnoxious to the people, and in
many Instances, positively dangerous.
Several persons and animals have
been lately bitten by dogs, and l need
not call your attention to the conse-
quent danger and the suffering which
may emanate therefrom.
The danger increases during the hot
season, and the killing of every dog,
good or bad, would be preferable, if
hydrophobia in any person could not be
prevented by any other means.
There are good dogs and bad dogs,
but the city cannot give separate trial
to each one, and the best dog is liable
to become sick and dangerous
/ leave it to your wisdom to enact an
ordinance which will give the necessary
protection and diminish, as much as
possible, the danger to which the peo-
pie are exposed.
Legislation alone will be unproduc-
tive of good results unless means are
provided to enforce the same, and this
is another matter submitted 10 your
careful consideration.
| have notified the city attorney of
the subject matter to be submitted to
you, to enable him to point to YOU the
the present status of the law, and to ad-
wise you as to remedial legislation.
Respectfully
LOUIS MARCHETTI, Mayor.