The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-06

up 70 date TO employ dogs as pC
hcemen, and kept veterinary surgeon
at headquarters to look after them
together with special officers to trail
them by means Of dummy burglar
and plckpockets, you might well b
surprised Yet this system has beef
In use for years In the plcturesqu,
old city Of Client, IN Belgium: and sc
successful have these fourlegged Or
ficers become that the idea of dog
policemen is finding favor all over
Belgium as well as in France. and in
more than $50 German municipalities
besides.
Indeed the Prusslan minister Of the
interior recently sent Herr Laufer
police commissioner at schwelm. on 4
special mission to Ghent to interview
"a + Van Wesemael, police chief Of
that city to whom belongs the credit
OF having been the FIRST to initiate
dog.policemen In Europe.
called upon NJ. Van Wesemael
that | might learn from the very foun.
tain-head the whole story Of these
wonderful dogs, who have not oniy
been emlRently successful as night
cops, but have saved the municipali.
" many thousands Of francs a year.
On the Angiospanish frontier at Gl.
bralter and elsewhere dogs are used
as smugglers; they retrieve game for
sportsmen with wonderful saeacity.
they lead the blind. rescue wayfarers
on the famous 81 Bernard, in swItzer-
land, and are used IN the German
army g find the wounded on a battle
neld and carry medicines to them.
Therefore. argued the Client chief
OF police, Why not provide our night
patrolmen with fourIegged colleagues
who could beat round IN waste places.
act as scouts. pursue pickpockets fast.
er than any two-iegged oficer. and
generally give their human colleague
. sense q s0earity and protection?
Moreover. look at the idea from the
point Of the maIeiactor. aud you win
see how the dog-policemen positively
prevent crimes which might other.
wise be committed. It Is possible
enough on a dark night to elude an
ordinary policeman. but a big. power.
ful Belgian sheepdog. with more
tricks In his repertory than irst.
class iuggler-that Is a very different
matter
IN 1888. the city Of Ghent. in which |
night-watches Of the police have been
thoroughly organized ever since 1854. /
resolved upon an Increase OF the |
force. Belgium Is a poor country,
and tie city's budget" was exhaust.
ed Thereupon arose N. Van wese
mael, and suggested seriously enough
that, il the city couldn't afford men.
perhaps II could afford dogs.
The city fathers resolved 10 try the
experiment at any rate; and IN
March, 1898. the "chlens-pollciers'
we're tried IN a small way. They we're
wanted Tor The outskirts
Of the town. which were notorious
ior violent robberies and no arrests.
Naturally enough, the police avoided
.hese places. where. alone and far
from help. they we're supposed to
ieal with bands OF armed thugs.
Here are some Of the regulations
Ipecially laid down by NJ. Van Wese-
nael: The police-dogs viii be taken
mt the moment the night-cail rings.
md led hack into their kennels at the
morning cali. always held in leash.
'his last will always be held ahort
o as to prevent the dogs from attack.
ng passers-by. Arrived on their beat
he night police will let loose their
ogs, that they may act as scouts. and
row accustomed 70 visiting outlying
ouses and farms and isolated quar-
srs where proving criminals may
ide. The dogs viii always remain
luzzled during duty. II they give no
ce by barks or growls that they have
'und something unusual. the men
~ hasten TO reioin them, and re. I
loye their ma4Eie, which may Be ]. :
ladlly done. =
The men viii not permit anyone
coax Or caress the dogs, that they
~ Be accustomed only to obey Of
GERS IN uniform. The animals must
waYs be treated with gentIeness but a
sYer petted except BY way Of reward II
Z good service rendered. In speak.
& to the dogs q tone OF sharp com. m
and must always be used. and the D
finals must obey instantly. 81
II possible. avoid al chastlssment:
ID a threat must invarlabb al7eceds al
rcihle correction For, once truck p.
e dog may lose his pluck and nerve 81
d become even dangerous TO the Of
er With whom he works. The night
lice will always prevent the dogs
'm picking up bones or eating any az
I'd whatsoever found whilst on duty.
iminals have already striven to Al,
ison our fourfooted colleagues. The
emical1 used for this purpose pro. Va
&c ahe most terrible and instant
ects. ~