The San Francisco call., 1904-02-14
DOGS OF HIGH
AND Low. DEGREE
In the Kaiser's Country Ca
mines Are Strictly Classed
and Taxed Accordingly
RANGE FROM S4 76 DOWN
System Well Arranged and
Law Enforced With Dill
gence and Impartiality

Like everything else in Germany
dogs are divided into classes. The first
class contains the dogs. that are kept
as pets by people in seasy. circum-
stances. To the second class belong
those dogs that are used for hunting.
The third class, includes all dogs that
are kept for working animals by milk
towns and cities.
In the city every dog is taxed, but
there is distinction made between
the three classes. Dogs of the first
class are taxed 20 marks (s4 16), those
of the second class 10 marks (s2 $50 and
those of the third class only marks
($1 19) per annum. This system of tax
Ing dogs according to classes seems TO
be an excellent one. Every one thinks
it perfectly just that those who keep
dogs merely as luxuries should pay
more for them than the people who
keep dogs for working purposes. When
you see some of the dogs for which
people pay nearly So a year in taxes
you are willing to admit that beauty
lies in the eyes of the beholder.''
MANY VARIETIES OF DOGS.
The variety of dog which seems to pe
the most fancied as a pet in Germany
is the short-legged, elongated Dachs-
hund. Some of these dogs are SO long
that they are really pitiful sights. Fox
terriers are quite common, and, in fact,
nearly every variety of dog is found |
here. Bulldogs, however, are very sell
dom seen.
The dogs that are used for hunting
are mostly German deer hounds and
bird dogs of the setter and pointer
types. Beagles are seldom used and |!
are uncommon. Hunting dogs, as a |
rule, are kept in the country and very I
little is seen of them
Working dogs are not confined to any
particular variety. Any dog that is
large and strong may be used, and /
great many different kinds are SEEN /
When a person comes to Germany one
of the first things that is sure TO i'm I
press him as strange is the sight of /
dog hitched to a wagon with a woman +
as his mate. In Leipzig working dogs /
are very numerous and are mostly |
owned by the poor people. So far as L |
have seen, the dogs are treated with |
consideration by their owners and seem
in many cases to really enjoy their
work
EVERY CITY HAS A DOG SHOW. |
Every large city in Germany has it's /
annual dog show, and people seem to /
take as much, if not more, interest in |
them than we do in America.
In all cities and large towns dogs are
required to be muzzled whenever they
are on the streets or in public places.
Small dogs that are not vicious may be
taken on leash without a muzzle.
When the tax upon dog is paid, the
dog is registered and the owner is Civ
en- a tag. which must be attached to it's
collar. When a dog is allowed upon
the street without its muzzle or its tag,
it is subject to seizure by the dog po-
lice, who are a special branch of the
municipal police. The usual fine in
such a case is about 75 cents where
there is no willful intent or neglect on
the part of the owner. After a dog !
has been captured once and its owner
warn d, if it is captured again the fine
is much heavier. The only dogs that I
are allowed upon the streets without I
muzzles are those that are unquestion-
ably under three months of age. After
a dog is captured it is taken to the |
pound and kept there three days. At
the end of that time, if uncalled for.
he is either sold or disposed Of.
The effect of the regulations regard
ing dogs has been to practically ex
terminate stray and useless dogs, and
to restrict the dogs actually kept to
the three classes already given.
The laws are enforced with great
diligence and impartiality, and as re-
suit that much dreaded disease, hydro
phobia. is practically unknown in Ger
many Washington Star.