The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-28
The Dog Laws.

To Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 It would seem that our "dog laws are not any more humane or intelligent than those of our sister State Massa- chusetts. Not physician in this city will affirm that he has seen or treated a case of rabies, and yet the poor dogs have been made frantic by the violent efforts to secure them--often their muz- zles and collars stolen and many fam- flies made heartslck over the loss of their household pets. It would appear that greater fatality attends cyno- phobia than hydrophcbia! The follow 1 ing letter to the Boston Transcript in- dicates the situation in Massachusetts:
 Years ago MT. George T. Angell said: | Massachusetts has the worst dog laws of any state in the Union," This state- ment has never been disproved; least of all this year Citizens seem to have no rights of property that are recogniz- ed. Suppose in consequence of some capricious order, a horse that might happen to get into the road without a bridle or head-stall, could be seized and shot! What a storm of indignation woud be aroused, not only at the oTuel- 1 ty but robbery! Yet 1t would otsbe a whit more absurd, not whit more l outrageous, than has been done of late, in consequence of the cruel fnrzzling order It is only too true that.muzzles have been stolen from dogs in the street. Within the last two weeks a valuable St. Bernard, owned by MT. J. Buttermer, in Bond street, Summer vile, and for which he had recently re- fused $1S0, went out as usual in the morning, with collar and muzzle on, and has not since been seen at his home. Distressed beyond measure. for the dog was great favor-lte, had been owned five years, and treated like a child, Mir Butter.mer advertised him, offering twenty-five dollars reward, and made every possible effort. He is not a rich man; his business Is a milk route. Search was unavailing, except to dle- cover that the dog had been shot by a policeman, whose name was given. It was stated that the poor animal had neither collar nor muzzle. But the col- lar was new last summer, 6 large, str1ng one, costing three dollars and a half, and the muzzle was a wire one, the easiest and most secure, They were stolen without doubt. It Is alleg- ed the policeman knew the owner; had seen the dog every day right along, and knew he was licensed and muzzl- ed What kind of law is 1t that per mits such wholesale robbery and cruel ty? The dog was perfectly healthy and inoffensive. He had no bad habits, was an excellent watch dog, and yet so gen. tie that he was the playmate of the children in the neighhorhood. He was his masters devoted friend, and his loss can never be replaced.
 I can vouch for the accuracy of these statements, A member of my family was in summerville last Sunday, and from Mir Buttermer and others learned the facts.
 Since the panic began in Haverhill a farmer drove down from Chester, N. H., with a wagon load of apples for sale He was a hard working, elderly man, and had Fttle time, perhaps less { inclination, when he came home wea- ried out, to read newspapers He knew nothing of the muzzling order in Ha- verhill so, as usual, brought his dog along, for company, and to guard the wagon, Of course unmuzzle1. He drove to a provision store, where he was ae- customed to sell his farm products, and went in. The dog, as he always did jumped off, and lay down directly un- der the wagon. A few minutes later, his collar was roughly grasped, and he was hauled out and shot!
 The dog was valuable in money; but more, he was a faithful friend and guardian, the family pet, the ohildren,s playmate and protector, and dearly dearly loved.
 The men rushed out from the shop as the pistol was fired. The poor old man at first stood looking in dumb anguish at his dead friend. Then he broke down, and cried piteously, his whole frame trembling and shaken with grief 'He was one of my family" he sobbed Somebody might have told me-he never harmed a fly"
 The gray-haire1 old man climbed painfully into his wagon, and drove