Evening star., 1911-06-05
PLAN WAR ON DOGS
MuzzIing Order of Last Year
May Be Extended.
FEAR SPREAD OF RABIES
Consider Ordering All Animals to Be
Kept in After Dark.
P0UNDMASTER'S DIFFICULTIES
Examination Shows Canine That Bit
Two Persons Last Week Had
Hydrophobia.

That the District Commissioners intend
to avail themselves of every means to
protect citizens from dogs running at
large and to prevent the possibility of
an outbreak of rabies was made evident
today, when 1t was stated upon author
ity that they have under consideration
the extension of the order issued last
summer requiring all dogs to be muzzled.
1t was learned today that the Commits
sioners already have received communi-
cations on the subject from citizens.
many of whom have gone so far as to
state that they do not believe the muZ-
zling order is being enforced as it should
be. The order went into effect August
IL, 1870 and there is every indication
that the Commissioners will decide to
extend 1t another year.
Health Officer Woodward today sug-
eested that the order could be more
rigidly enforced If additional wagon
were given the poundmaster. He did not
indicate whether he would recommend
to the Commissioners an appropriation
for this purpose
That the promulgation of an order re-
curing all dogs, whether muzzled or
tagged. to be kept in after dark would
assist the poundmaster In enforcing the
muzzling order. and, In addition. would
greatly lessen the danger Of dogs suffer
ing with rabies being at large, has been
suggested to the Commissioners by the
health officers.
Dogs In Suburbs Escape.
Commenting on the difficulties expert
enced in enforcing the muzzling order.
which. he states. is responsible for the
complaints that many dogs are running
at large without being muzzled, the
health officer said:
I'm the suburbs dogs can escape under
fences and in other ways elude the
poundmasters net. That is why many
dogs are seen that are not muZZled, the
| an additional wagon were given the
poundmaster much better results could
be achieved In capturing these animals
| that are running at large in violation
Of the law"
AS to his suggestion that dogs of all
descriptions, whether muzzled or not, be
kept In after dark. DR.. Woodward said
| that law compelling this is particu-
larly desirable.
There is a pernicious practice viii
believe Is followed to considerable extent
in this city, he said. land that is to
| turn dogs loose upon the streets after it
becomes dark. giving them complete
liberty from the leash and muzzle The
result is the poundmaster cannot see
whether dogs are muzzled or tagged
| until he gets close to them. This gives
the dogs q chance to escape and they
frequently get away
That the poundmaster has been active
since the muzzling order went into ef-
feet August IL last year was made evil
| dent by the records of his Office given
out today.
Captured 1850 Dogs.
Between August IL and May % of this
year. 1t was stated, 1850 dogs were cap
tured. In addition, .431 dogs were sur
rendered. making a total of $500 i'm
pounded. OF the number captured, 500
were tagged but not muzzled. Alto
gether there were 1869 that were
neither tagged nor muzzled.
Health Officer Woodward said that
violators of the muZzling order were
being taken into court as fast as de-
tected and that II the poundmaster' s
force was increased he believed 1T
would be possible to secure q much
larger number Of convictions.
Geneva Hill. colored. seven Years of
age, of 46O L street southwest. and
Ethel Thompson. also colored, six years
of age. of ella New York avenue north
west, were walking on Four-and "a Half
street between G and H streets south
west last evening when dog bit them.
Ethel on the right hand. The children
were taken to the Emergency Hospital,
where the wounds were cauterized.
While Edward Steele of 800 9Th street
northwest was walking on Louisiana
avenue between AZ and 9th streets north
west last night bulldog bit him on the
leg Mr. Steele went to q drug store at
Sd street and Indiana avenue, where the
wound was cauterized.
Colored Woman Bitten.
A dog said to be owned by John B.
Espenrode of Deanwood, d. c.. bit Mary
Mathews, colored. of 4Sth street, near
Sheriff road northeast. yesterday morn
ing. The woman refused treatment.
August Peaper. three years old, residing
at 2241 14th street, Anacostia, and Gill
bert Smallwood. colored. nineteen years
of age. also OF Anacostia, were bitten last
Friday by a rabld dog. They are being
treated by physicians.
The boy was attacked by the dog and
bitten on the leg. The animal then at
tackled a small GIRL but did not bite her
At this juncture SmallwOod, who was
riding a bicycle, arrived on the scene.
He kicked the dog as II was about to
attack the children again. The animal
dog was cornered by citizens and Police
man p. j. Whalen of the eleventh pre-
cinct shoL it.
It's head was sent to the Department of
Agriculture, where DIR. John Buckley
made an examination and today declared
the dog was suffering from rabies.