Middletown transcript., 1905-06-10
Communicated.
THE DOG QUESTION

Communicated.
THE DOG QUESTION
Mr.. EDITOR This question of pro-
lection from the dreaded rabies is very
serious one and no person realizes it more
than the writer, except it be one who has
personally suffered by risk or loss in their
family. There is no question but that
every precaution should be taken to pre-
vent the occurrence OF the dread disease,
but good judgment should be used in the
procedure. Our Town Fathers in their
anxiety for the safety Of our citizens,
entirely overlooked the fact that possibly
only few dogs were bitten by the rabld
dog recently killed, and that there is
more than one person who has dog who
would like to keep it, probably not SO
much for its real value, but from the
fact that it is pet Now, as the matter
stands the. Bailiff can kill the dog, even
if the owner has registered it and pro-
vided muzzle for it, if the dog in an
unguarded moment should slip out III
the street. 1t is also said that any citl-
zen has right to kill dog on sight that
is not muzzled-it is also said that the
Bailiff evidently spots out certain dogs he
wants to kill, and when he gets ready he
goes after his gun flor he does not have
it with him at all times) and watches his
chance to kill it. The writer and many
others think the ordinance governing the
dog question is unfair and to certain
extent defeats its own object. 1t should
have provided pound for dogs, and the
officers instructed to put all dogs whether
owned in Middletown or not, if not regis
tered and muzzled, and keep them at
least forty-eight hours, 50 that owners
could have a chance to save pet, or
valuable dog, upon the payment Of
fee. A fee Of fifty cents is exacted for
registry What right have you to charge
this fee, Mr.. Town Fathers, if no protec-
ton is afforded the owner? You take
| his money and throw the whole duty OF
| looking after the dog upon him, and then
if the dog should get out without his
muzzle he can be shot by an irresponsi-
Bile individual. Where is the justice in the
law? There is more than one side to this
question. What right have or any one
| to shoot a dog in the street? l. there
not law against discharging firearms in
| the limits of the town? | have been
SO informed The ordinance reads 'sDogs
must be registered and muzzled, or will
| be killed" Killed by who? That is a
pertinent question Shall every Tom,
Dick and Harry shoot i'll our streets ?
1t seems to me that the matter is very
loose, valuable dog was killed this week,
which should not have happened. |
refer to the Smith dog, valued pet, shot
in very sneakiEg manner, and while
Mrs. Smith and others were out. The
shooting was not only the means Of killing
| the dog but OF shocking the nerves Of
the women who were close by, and surely
it would only have been a manly action
upon the part Of the officer if he had told
Mrs. Smith to take her dog in the house,
or he would be compelled to kill it, and
if she had refused to comply he would
then have been justified in killing it.
] An officer should have some good COM
mon sense about him, in tile execution
Of orders given him, because lie will say
he was obeying instructions given him
by the Town Commissioners. Well, they
are responsible for his acts, and they
should now take steps to prevent any
further recurrence Of similar nature, and
carefully instruct the officers as to their
duties, giving them particularly to under
stand that private citizen has some
rights also. The officer who killed the
Smith dog was on the street the day
before with his dog running along with
out muzzle on, the muzzle being, hung
on his cart or wagon. Is the law only
for other peoples dogs? 1t certainly was
in force on that day. lie has gone SO far
as to threaten certain dog, saying lie
was going to fix him. The owner has
not made any complaint against him as
yet, as the dog is registered and has Ills
tag OIL, and is also muzzled when taken
i'll the street. Now, again, this officer has
had as high as dozen dogs and pups
at his home, yelping, bowling and dis
turbing the neighbors on his street. At
this very time, if you 60 there YOU will
probably find six or eight in lis ward
and yet his neighbors have had more
consideration for him than lie las for
them. Now, you may say make com
plant If these dogs are nuisance that's
all very well, but people generally are
very reluctant to do anything Of that
kind, but | have heard more than one
person say they would like to have the
whole dog question and Baiiffs duties
ventilated in the press. Tie writer does
not make any charges, you will note. lust
/ statement of facts for the benefit Of All
those interested. 1t is not too late yet ~
the Town Commissioner to provide .
pound, SO that the indiscrilninate shoot.
ing Of dogs shall be stopped; it is their
duty to DO 50, we pay for the protection
nov give US the protection we nav for
This certeinly is not unreasonable.
] CITIZEN.