Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-03
WOMEN PLEAD FOR PETS
Mrs. Henry 1. West Heads Protest
Which Brings Victory.
NEW PLAN TO BE ADOPTED
Poundmaster to Send for Stray Fee
lines Upon Request-All
Now Satisfied.

Defenders of valuable house cats as
pets. of homeless alley cats and of the
feline tribe generally won a partial vic-
tory today when they appeared before the
Commissioners of the District Of Column
bia in protest against the cat-impound-
ing order which is to so into effect July
II. The District heads did not say that
they would abolish or alter the regula-
ton. but they promised that arrange
ments will he made so that the pound will
send for all stray eats on request. This
agreement appeared to be mutually sat
isfactory.
The suggestion that stray cats be col
lected on request was made by Mrs.
Henry l.. West, president of the Wash
ington Cat Club Mrs Willard Pollard
the club. but is annoyed by a cat and
three kittens which have taken up their
residence on her premises and refuse 10
be driven away. Endorsed the suggestion.
declaring that the public in her opinion.
would be willing to cooperate With the
District authorities in reducing Washing
toms population of stray and worthless
cats.
The principal trouble. declared Mrs
Pollard. is that residents who are af-
nicted with stray cats don't know how
to dispose of them The animals should
be collected by the pound on request,
she said. and destroyed in a humane way
Approves Mrs. Vests Plan.
Commissioner Johnston who presided
at the hearing in the absence OF Commits
sioner Rudolph. president of the board.
announced that he thought the plan sug-
gested by Mrs. West to be a good one.
and that arrangements will be made to
put it into effect when the regulation be-
comes operative.
The position taken by Mrs West Is that
the District authorities should recognize
the difference between valuable and stray
and worthless cats. To this end she
urged that the impoundirg regulation be
modified. Those in touch with the situa-
ton believe that. whether or not the
regulation Is modified Mrs. West and the
Cat Club members have won a substan-
tial victory, az they point out that, IL
the pound is kept busy with requests for
collecting worthless felines. ii Will have
no time for inaugurating a general cru
SADIE against cats. which might lead TO
the impounding of animals of value.
The Commissioners listened TO siren.
uOus objections voiced by a number in
attendance at the hearing In opposition to
the going into effect of the new regula-
ton. Mrs. Mary LantZ charged the Com
missoners. the District health office and
District officials generally with being in
league against the cat. Health Officer
Woodward. she said, is affiicted with
'scatamania.''
Will Protect Her Pets.
Mrs Lantz concluded by saying that
she broke her arm recently and is Just
recovering from an attack Of pneumonia.
which makes it almost imperative that
she leave Washington for a few weeks
for her health, but that as long as the
cat ordinance is in effect she will stay
here. in order to protect her pets.
Emanuel c. Peach. a commission mer-
chant, declared that alley cats which
have taken up their abode in his stables
are saving him great deal OF money
every year by killing rats. The matter Is
a business proposition with him, he said
and when IL comes to having rats or cats
around he is in favor of the latter every
time.
While Mr.. Peach was speaking some
one In the audience suggested that an In
crease in the population of rats, brought
about by a wholesale impounding OF cats.
might lead to an epidemic of bubonic
plague.
Cats can convey the plague a. well as
rats; it's matter of fieas, retorted Or.
Woodward.
MT. Peach Prefers Cats.
'If that's the case. let US have the
cats said Mr.. Peach. I'VE can catch
the cats and sprinkle them with flea
powder, but we can't catch the rats
Commissioner Johnston stated that
some new rat-catching schemes have been
worked out that make the efforts OF cats
look feeble by comparison.
At the conclusion of the hearing DR..
Woodward and Poundmaster Emil Kuhn.
who was present. We're surrounded by
practically all of those who protested
against the going into effect of the
ordinance and given the addresses Of
number of premises where stray cats
have taken up their abode. The officials
stated that the animals will be sent for
and exterminated at the pound.