Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-10

-HE month of July Is Of paramount
importance to the entire dog popu-
|. ! lation of the nations Capital. for
during this month the dog catcher Is
busiest And his harvest is large indeed.
According to Pounomaster samuel Einstein
the total number of dogs impounded In
the fiscal year Just ended approximated
twenty-five hundred. over one-fourth OF
that number having been voluntarily re-
linouished by their owners, and IN many
cases taken to the pound and presented
OF all the dogs taken only about two
hundred and twenty-five were redeemed
less than fifty sold while the remaining
number were killed.
Since the beginning Of the fiscal year
inst closed there were over fifty dogs
whose bodies were sent to the bureau OF
animal industry of the Department OF
Agriculture for examination to determine
whether or not they had developed rabies
previous to their death. All these dogs
had bitten one or more persons and had
been kept under observation at the pound
for ten days or more. II. at the end or
that time, they showed no signs OF VI
ciousness they were returned to their
person bitten, usually a child. had a war
rent made out for the owner FOR allowing
a vicious dog to run at large. The case
would then be tried IN court and the
testimony showed the dog to be Of a
vicious nature an order was issued for his
death. following which his body would be
examined
The force at the pound consists OF Mr..
Einstein, a clerk and five colored dog
catchers Mr. Einstein has held his pres
ent position for nearly thirty-eight years.
while the other members of the force
have all been there a considerable time
One does not have to tarry long to get
an intimate view OF the life OF the pound
master and Of the dog catchers: NOR
does IL take long for the visitor, II he be
of a tender disposition. to realize that In
the drama which Is being enacted the
dog usually plays the role of william.
Mr. Ernstein tells many many stories stories. OF a. en-
counters he has had with enraged own
ers Of various animals. one OF these
happened many years ago:
Those were the times" he said. when
we used to catch good many cows,
hogs geese. At the time I l speak ABOUT Sut
Is now Lincoln Park. The men had just
captured a flock Of geese. when crowd
of men interfered. A vertiable riot en-
sued. The wagon was almost broken
men and I had all we could do to defend
ourselves, and in the excitement one OF
the crowd was injured. The situation
became so bad that had to shoot my
gun of in the air 20 that we could get
away. That's the last time I ever car
ried one. When we did get away We
were ali in a pretty bad state. The
matter came up in court. and Identified
In the riot They we're each fined
SO. There were fifty In the court
room. and believe they all took part
but I could not identify any more"
Mr.. Einstein is called upon at frequent
intervals TO explain the various rules re-
garding the pound. Chief among the
questions asked Is why do have to
pay two dolors to get my dog out?"
practically everybody who comes here
70 get his dog said he, has some ex-
cuse to offer. They are all convinced that
their particular dog should be set free
without making them pay.