The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
THE NER STATE DOG TAX.
OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST THE
PROPOSED hill.
Owners OF ThoroushbredS United on the
Need OF Aid to the Kennels and shows
Fears or "a Niger In the WoOdpilc"
Lively Interest in the Discussion

Fears or "a Niger In the NoOdplle"
Lively Interest in the Discussion.
No topic has so stirred up the owners OF
thoroughbred dogs in recent years as has
the bill 10 be introduced under the auspices
OF the State Department Of Agriculture
at Albany 10 fix q uniform State tax on
dogs The addition as 10 the use OF the
revenue, which on basis Of 10000 dogs
would probably be 50 coo 600 suggested by
James Mortimer of the Westminster Kennel
Club, that part of the proceeds should be
used az premiums ct dog shows and 10
improve the dog breeding industry, has
been accepted as a good suggestion by
s. j. II. Kraclde, Assistant State Commits
s.oner of Agriculture: and if this benefit
were explicitly stated some very infuen-
tia dog owners might favor the proposed
bill.
There are many, however, who fear that
the tax would be too costly one to collect
/ by State supervision, and that only the
minimum OF benefits 10 be conferred would
reach the dog breeders. What this class
thinks was expressed succinctly by j.
/ Willoughby Mitchell OF the Scottish and
Welsh terrier speciality clubs, who said IF
/ the tax ia TO come back to tho dog breeders
fat Jobs for politicians / am against it,
The views OF the more conservative dog
owners were expressed by Joseph B
Thomas Jr., of the Russian Wolfhound
Club. He says;
Il believe that the regulation OF the dog
tax by the State Government, if properly
regulated might be made OF immense
value to agricultural interests in general,
and TO the interests OF thoroughbred dog
breeding in particular. Under the present
SYSTEM little or nothing is done officially
for the ameorahon of the different breeds
of thoroughbred dogs in this State. Out
side Of the private interests which support
the breeds and kennel club shows. there is a
vast amount OF ignorance concerning thor
oughbred dogs. 1t would he of tremendous
benefit If at least part Of tho tax collected
by the State could be diverted to channels
for the better understanding and regulation
Of such dog diseases as rabies and distemper,
concerning which there is oven among the
best Of veterinary authorities the greatest
lack of understanding. II we are going 10
have dogs at all, every effort should be made
to have the most beautiful thoroughbreds,
and tho breeding Of the same should be
encouraged instead Of discouraged which
" at present the case.
AS Mr. Nredenburgh, sec~stary OF the
Am e. .cal Kennel Club, has suggested,
regist Ell ed dog should have some advantages
o"er an unregistered animal. AT the
nreocnt the owner of tho thoroughbred
bitch, which le 10 keeping for the purpose
OF producing tn best thoroughbred animals
possible. has 10 pay the same tax as the
owner Of the monRrel cur which luns nc
liberty about the streets. There IS little
done in, this country for the inc iigent
general, and practically nothing done for
dogs. Distances ard so great in this
country and the shipping charges OF the
express companies are so eNorbltant ana
badly regulated. especially in he larger
breeds that any assistance or intelligent
supervision by the State would be received
by dog fanciers with the greatest OF in
terest.H
In this city and wherever the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami mails
is the collecting agent, the dog owners pay
n license fee for each dog and the revenue,
with additions from the society 5 own funds,
is used 10 gather and destroy the stray
dogs and cats, with other work OF direct
benefit to the community. In the counties
throughout the State where sheep are kept
n tax is collected TO recoup the sheep
breeders for the depredations from dogs,
but in counties where no sheep are kept
the tax is not very strictly collected. IL
was pointed out by one dog owner that
State tax promoted by the agricultural
interests, which is a fine on the dog as
maefactor, could not logically be used
10 promote the breeding OF such male
factors, that Is by Offering premiums to
help dog shows or the breeding OF thorough
bred dogs.
Dog show exhibitors. until they have
seen the text Of the bill, are not incline d
to speak on the efficacy Of uniform State
tax. but they are united in the opinion
that in the interests OF progress the State
Department Of Agriculture should give aid
to dog shows. aside from any scientific work
to be contemplated regarding the cause
and cure Of the diseases Of the dog. The
stamping out OF the false ideas regarding
hydrophoDia in the public mind was pointed |
out by several as fruitful field of work
for the department
George h. Schauber. proprietor Of the |
Clifton Hill Farm at Ballston Lake this I
~i,..o which has been u home OF pure bred I
prz thinning cattle, swine coities and |
poultry ever since iIId, under date OF Jan. |
sent the following letter to the American |
Kennel Club
II notice that during the present sitting |
of the Leg stature bill IS to be introduced /
to the effect that State tax be levied on |
dogs at tho rate Of $40 or g. head, | |
think in many ways this would Toe good /
thing, but through the influence OF the |
American Kennel Club. the specially clubs
and the breeders OF pure bred dogs, can't
we GET this bill through 50 as to benefit
the pure bred canine and the breeders and
~Can we not by our united efforts have
the bill made TO read or if already drawn
amended TO read that all owners showing
certificates Of American Kennel Club
registry should be taxed only half and
light tax put on brood bitches, especially
wlere ysrded?
a INV TO this effect would help rid the
State of worthless mongrel ours, the dogs
that are responsible for most Of the dam
age done TO sheep and otherwise. On
tie other hand, II would slim late the
,rnand for pure bred dogs, bene filing
breeders and the American Kennel Cub
by bring ng in tie many entries that would
come naturally from tho reduced tax on
registered dogs.
The only wav to get this determination
for pure bred dogs is 10 fight for II. If
the American Kennel Cub breeders and
owners viii join forces, write their Senators
and Assemblymen and induce others 20 do
likewise. Bringing their influence 10 bear
on every point possible. we may be able
to get law thai viii give registered dogs
this advantage over mungrels-an advan-
tage that no one that has had experience
with pure bred dogs will deny that they
4 serve"
In reply to Mr. Schauber. Secretary
Of the American Kennel Club
Iii. 4 ~ .