New-York tribune., 1911-12-18
NOW TO GATHER DOG TAX
S.P. G. A. Will Act on Court RuI-
ing UphoIding License.
OWNERS TO BE WARNED
Then Will Be Hailed Before Police
Magistrates Unless They
Pay Up.

The constitutionality Of the dog license
law having been sustained by unanimous
decision Of the Appellate Division of the SUI
preme Court, the Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty TO Animals is now perfecting
plans whereby its agents will visit every
house i'm the rity to warn persons owning
dogs that they must secure licenses. If At
the expiration Of reasonable length Of
time such owners do not take out licenses
they will be hailed to court No such drastic
action has heretofore been put into practice
by the society.
William X. Horton, general manager of
the society. said yesterday that the money
to he received from license fees would be
used TO further the work of clearing the city
Of dogs. and it would be a permanent fund
whereby such work could be carried on
without the society having to go into its
own pocket to meet a deficit as was the
| case last year, TO clear the city Of diseased
and homeless dogs and cats.
There is no reason why a person claim
ing the right 10 keep a dog I'm this city
should not be willing to pay license for
that privilege" said Mr.. Horton. 1T would
cost an owner 81 the first year and 81
year thereafter. There arc many dogs in
the flats of the city. They are a source Of
protection in some instances, while there are
persons who take pleasure in having them
| around.
Besides those reasons when a dog is
licensed, it is much easier for an owner 10
get it back when il is lost. There will prac
tically be a dog census taken when our
agents have thoroughly canvasscd the city.
We mean to enforce the law. At present
we have only about fifteen agents going
about the city, hut next year that number
will be substantially increased"
The license law, Mr.. Horton declared, is
enforced in all first second and third class
cities in the state. lie said that i'm many
Of the large cities Of the country such laws
had been in force for years. Some of the
dog owners who have protested the loudest
in New York. he declared. were judges.
which was true Of specific cases on staten
Island, where for a number of years past
the society had met the most opposition
But the law is 10 be enforced in staten
Island as we'll as in all other boroughs,'
said Mr.. Horton.
dogs and $4,000 cats have been taken mp
by tho society. Practically all the cats
Wero put To death in the gas chamber which
is maintained by the society for such pur-
pose. OF the dogs fully two-thirds were
put out cf the way by the same 'merci-
ful" method. The shelter Of the society
has been at 1920 street and the East River
but Mr. Horton said another one would be
erected at Ath street and Avenue 4.
New York city would be worse than Con-
stantinople used 10 be. the manager of the
society said, if a systematic warfare was
not carried on, 10 rid the city of the stray
animals.
Already a large number OF licenses have
been applied for since the decision OF the
court was given Mr.. Horton declared. But
with the putting into effect Of the new
plans a great deal is expected To be accom-
plished i'm q short space Of time. several
persons have been fined SO for not com
plving with the license law when properly
warned The magistrates. IL was added
had shown desire rot 10 be- lenlent Wneh
such cases came before them
With the increased revenue from the
licenses il was also said there would be
number Of dog ambulances added 10 the
present equipment. There arc now eight OF
more such amhuances i'm service.