The Washington times., 1904-08-07

extent that a very large proportion ct
the dogs bought IN Washington come
from the pound. The profit on these
sales ranges from 50 TO $50 One man, it
Is said. has made sufficient money in
this manner to buy himself a house and
lot
Many Persons Buy.
Of course many persons desiring dogs
visit the pound in person and make their
purchases direct. Among these are
lovers Of dogs who buy them merely to
save their lives. The Countess Cassini
Is a philanthropist Of this kind. Her
carriage is frequently seen before the
gate of the pound during the winter and
spring months. She makes her pur-
chases with rare discrimination, and
often presents them to her friends.
Sometimes Count Cassini himself visits
the pound for a Ike purpose. for he also
has the Russians love OF dogs. Dogs
belonging TO members OF the Diplomatic
Corps In Washington are always re-
turned TO their owners free Of charge.
All captured dogs are held at the
pound for at least forty-eight hours. II
at the end Of this period the dogs have
not been redeemed or thought worthy Of
being kept for sale. they are killed.
Consequently a killing is made at the
pound every other day The animals
are suffocated by means of carbon di-
oxide gas. Thrown bodily into a large
red box. into which the fumes from q
charcoal fire are carried by a pipe, II IS
only q matter of seconds before they are
dead An occasional yeIp or groan IS
heard, but most Of the dogs die silently
Cats Difficult to Kill.
Cats are more difficult to kill, espe-
ciaIly kittens. which seem TO have the
"nine-lives" disease in an exaggerated
form. This method of killing is the
surest and least painful that has vet
been tried. The heavy fumes Of the
carbon dioxide gas sink Immediately 70
the bottom OF the tank and no dog. how
ever small, escapes, Previous to Sep
TENDER. 1898. the animals were shot
And before the District pound was or
ganized the police were provided with
shot guns to shoot the stray dogs in the
streets.
Whether the policemen winged some
Of the citizens IN their efforts 70 fu,dl
this task is not on record At any rate,
changed 10 its present form pound for
stray animals was autherized under the
supervision of the Board of Health.
Washington dog life has its round
ers' which are constantly getting into
trouble. These dogs are returned TO the
pound with great regularity.
Like Their Prison Quarters.
Indeed some OF the dogs become much
attached 10 their quarters IN the pound.
An Irish setter, an old offender, was sold
recently TO a man IN the northeast sec
ton Of the city. The day after he was
taken away. Mr.. Einstein arrived at the
pound early IN the morning and there
was the setter waiting to be let into his
old quarters This happened three
times before his master was able 10 keep
him at home.
II is not strange that dogs leading a
/ paw-to-mOuth existence on the streets
and In the back alleys find two meals
/ OF good meat a day. such as they get
at the pound, a change for the better.
Most or the dogs and cats taken 10 the
1 pound, however, realize that they are
| prisoners. and are decidedly subdued
| Some Of the dogs come as near TO
] having human intelligence" as man.
| men-possibly nearer than many. They
| look through the bars OF the cages.
| some seeming utterly Indifferent to their
| fate, as If 70 say, The world has done