The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-03
A PLEA FOR THE DOG.
Lack of Consideration Is at the
Bottom of Most Mad Dog Scares.


Bottom of Most Mad Dog Scares.
The dog is having his day in the
newspapers. Some animal snaps at q
child or man USUALLY, 10 doubt, for
eause) and Immediately the cry of
mad dog" is raised. By the time the
creature Is chased with clubs and
stones under a blazing sun he is quite
kkeiy to be made mad or at least to
give the appearance Of rabies. OF course
there are genuine instances where a
dog is an actual sufferer from the dis
ease, but the chances are twenty to
eoe that a swapping dog has been
trased or Is affected by the weather
aDd rendered irritable, just as any ordi-
nary human being is, and that his bite
= harmless.
b would be a great many less
Scares about mad dogs II more consld-
eraffon were given them. Without IN
sending to &c so, many IN owner Is
cruel to his dog He is merely thought
heE A dog loves water. He wants
plenty OF 1t, yet while water is the
cheapest and easiest thing in the world
Tor a man to get, 1t is the hardest thing
for the dog TO find. The dog has to beg
sor 1t, and Is not always understood.
II q man cannot have a supply of cold
water at his elbow during the heated
serm, II he Is denied even temporarily
q cooling drink, he quickly makes his
&rifation apparent to every one. But
Ne dog Is expected By a ~thoughtless
svner tic find water for himself. and If
ss does not get 1t to be just as cheerful
- ever. to maintain an even temper
even IL hauled and pulled about. A dog
may be thrown a bone for a morning
neal and with it given a dish of water,
ut unless he Is the property of a mas
m who understands his needs, he is
ape TO go thirsty most Of the day.
det when he snaps in his Irritation he
promptly placarded as vicious.
Tkis article is intended as q plea for
he dog-for better treatment of him.
There are differences of opinion
whether it is just to any dog to keep
Nm tied up In a back yard of a city
house; whether a city is any place to
attempt the training of any but the
beribboned dollhouse pets, who are ex-
pected tc feed on dainties, to be tucked
under the arms of their mistress, to be
put on exhibition for the benefit of
calling friends, and at last to lie down
and die because life becomes too much
e q burden to attempt to drag arc ind
nhe accumulated fat that comes from
stufing and sleeping. Men will con-
2fnue to keep dogs In their city homes
md therefore must assume certain OBJ
1igati0ns toward them. The dogs must
have exercise, consequently must go
Upon the streets. Let us say right here
that the very first obligation is to see
- II that the dog has a constant sup
Dey Of fresh water.
Whether the dog is better under
uoDod or Is given more thought on the
Sther SIDE Of the Atlantic we do not
Know, but the dog that trots through
thu streets of London is very much bet
- on than is his American cousin.
6he water bowl for the dog is one of
- street sights over there. At very
frequent intervals where the crowds are
not too dense a bowl that Is kept filed
with wafer stands at the entrance TO a
Uhop door or beneath a window. The
Aexs learn who their friends are. They
KNOW all of these drinking places, Just
"A q horse knows the location of water
Observation-Disclosures Inquirer.