Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-15
A Good Dog Law Suggestion.

A Good Dog Law Suggestion.
| notice in The Farmer of Dec. 20 {
valuable contribution by your CORE
spondent, B. w. McKeen, upon dog law'
in New England.
This subject is most often considered
with reference to the sheep industry
which 1t is stated, has been very largely
diminished because of the losses due tc
dogs.
have no accurate figures of the
losses in this section directly due to
roaming dogs, but 1t Is an enormous
sum and in all sheep-raising c0mmuni'
ties except on the plains 1t is very large,
aggregating millions of dollars an.
nually.
License fees and such rights as are
accorded to the individual in regard to
permissible destruction Of dogs caught
in the act OF worrying sheep fail to di.
minish these losses and In thickly set
tied communities where small f1ocks
only are kept, Mr.. McKeen's suggestion
of personal oversight fails because Of the
comparatively great expense.
1t is generally agreed that the damage
done to sheep Is by worthless dogs, ours,
mongrels, ill-kept and unframed ami
mails, bred not raised for any especial
purpose.
Probably 95 per cent of the dogs kept
on farms and in agricultural districts
perform no very useful or valuable SER
vice, but are merely pets or companions
and of slight value as watch dogs, and
as simply dogs are Of no money value
they are not pure bred nor do they
possess much, II any Of the instincts OF
pure-bred dogs, and are worthless for
breeding purposes.
Yet these worthless animals are per-
mitted to be maintained, to the enormous
loss of communities as whole, and
practical extinction of a profitable in
dustry in many sections and to the in
Fiction of continual serious losses in
other sections. Thus do we pay for the
wag of dogs tail.
1t seems to me that we can retain the
wag of the tail and whatever of pleas
ure and comfort there is in the posses
sion of a dog and almost wholly prevent
the losses to the sheep raisers. In any
event it Is worth trying to save millions
of dollars.
My suggestion is that no person be
granted license to keep dog unless
such dog is q pure bred of his species
and duly registered in the kennel book
of the breed to which he belongs.
Legislation of this sort, enacted to-
day to 90 into effect ip say three years,
In order that owners might have ample
time to divorce themselves from their
loved but worthless pets, would replace
ours and mongrels with dogs OF an en-
tirely different sort, useful, companion
able, intelligent to the highest degree
and full of the instincts of their species
and nothing else; dogs that would re-
main at home unpossessed of wandering
tendencies and without the desire to de-
stroy life of other animals.
In licensing all dogs we take the first
step to regulate and control. Why not
advance further and license none but
pure-bred, registered dogsp-F. L.
Houghton in New England Homestead.
Breeding and Care of Farm Horses.
In Now Jersey, a pair of 16-hand
drafts is considered cheap for farm
work at $4OO, while If particularly we'll
matched or broken, 1t would command
much higher price. The COW and the
hen have been called mortgage-lifters,
but at present prices, how can a mort
gage be more easily and quickly paid
than by the sale of pair of young
horses each year? Do not hesitate to
raise a few colts for fear of q drop in
the market. Well-bred horses, which
are adapted to the purpose, whether
draft, coach, trotter or saddle horse.
have always commanded good prices and
undoubtedly always will.
If you intend to breed one of your
farm mares, still using her in the team,
do not, for your future horses sake,
take that old, spring-limbed, ewe-necked
mare, but pick out the best and most
active one you have. Look for depth
and width Of chest, muscular quarters
and clean, fiat limbs with prominent
tendons. Avoid straight pasterns, bad
feet or any unsoundness from natural
weakness that may be inherited by the
colt. The above rules apply to the stall
lion as we'll. He must have q little
more size than is desired In the colt and
be full of vigor and life. General con-
formation must also be considered in
sire and dam. Select Intelligent heads
and arched necks. Reject open flank,
wide spaces between ribs, and high
hips, for they are apt to prove hard
keepers.
CARE OF THE BROOD MARE AND COLT.
While the mare is pregnant give her
good care and feed and plenty of sxer-
else. Moderate work will not hurt her,
but let it be with judgment. Her ra-
tions should contain liberal amount Of
oats and wheat bran. Allow her the
liberty of a good sized box stall some
time before foaling and when that time
approaches, watch to see that all goes
well. While the colt Is q sucking, con-
tinue the oats and wheat bran ration.
Arrange small box for him as soon as
he can eat for himself. If possible, he
and his mother should have the run of q
meadow. Do not try to keep two AMI
mails on food for one. After weaving,
give him what will take the place OF his
mothers milk-oats, wheat bran, q little
oil meal, and mixed hay, If grass is not
in season.
Always endeavor to secure the growth
of bone and muscle rather than fat or
hair, and, therefore, avoid much corn.
Do not allow him too mnch roughage, 1t
will make him pot-bellied. You do not
want colt looking like dairy cow.
Break him to the halter young, before
he attains his strength. A piece of rope
makes the best and cheapest halter.
Make loop under the chin to pass the
head through, 80 that it can be drawn
tightly around his nose. Then you can
easily control him. Keep his feet trim
med. Long hoofs will sometimes cause
ringbones and other blemishes. Handle
him frequently. Don't frighten him,
and above all, don't let him frighten
you.-New England Homestead.
Kicking Cows.
We read all sorts of devices to cure