Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-11
DOG NOT VICIOUS,
BUT IS MUzzLED
Vailsburg Animal That Bit Girl
Bellies Reputation Given
1t by Owner.

The dog that bit the little Wallis
burg girl is still holding forth at his
owners home. 81 Palm street, while
the little girl is at her grandmother s
home, 10 Second street, South Orange
village, about two miles from her
parents residence. The story of the
condition of affairs published in yes
terday's Evening Star stirred the
neighbors and they declare that the
reputation as a kind and gentle ami
NAL, given the dog by the owner. is
not sustained by facts. The dog,
they declare, is the reverse of gem
tie. 1t has a decided fondness for
children, which takes the form of a
desire to bite them. In support of
their statements they say the dog is
frequently muzzled. Were 1t a mid
hammered canine why the muzzlingY
Is asked
This morning a Star reporter called
at the Palm street saloon, kept by
James Seen, and found the dog, a
black poodle, at home. The dog may
not have particular liking for re-
porters, especially Star reporters,
after all that has been said and done,
for 1t growled its displeasure at the
young man. It could not bite the re-
porter, for the animal was securely
muzzled as the ne ghbors said it had
frequently been. The muzZling of a
dog Is generally considered prima
facie evidence that the animal is
vicious and when found running at
large unmuzzled may be destroyed by
the police some say.
Health Board Needs Power.
1t would appear from inquiries ana
statements concerning this case that
Newark Is sadly in need of some
rule or regulation by which the
Board of Health or other authority
Will have power to take some action
against an animal who while per-
haps perfectly normal places in
jeopardy the health of children or
some grown up in the immediate
neighborhood
Need of such measure is exempli-
fed in this case. 1t is here reviewed
Marguerite King, aged u years, of
80 Palm street, who lapses into con-
vulsions at the mere sight of a neigh
boris dog which bit her Even with
this state of affairs, the health of
the child being slowly but surely run
down, the health authorities under
the present state of affairs, or so
they claim, are powerless to act.
1t was pointed out today by the
authorities that the parents of he
child have redress in the police
courts. Asked why the health Off
Gals could not bring such AN action,
the replay was made that they had
no power. that the parents must GER
tify to the court that the dog in
question is a vicious animal and a
danger to the neighborhood. II the
charge is proven to the satisfaction
of the court then the latter so it IS
said, has the power to order the dog
killed.
The case demonstrates beyond the
shadow of a doubt officials say that.
in order to protect the health and
life of the people of the community
more laws or regulations are needed
governing dogs and cats, especially
the former. At present the health
authorities. by their own admissions,
are without almost any power what
ever In this respect.
Has No Right 10 Kill.
Under the contagious disease act
the department has the right to kill or
do away with any dog or animal that
has o. communicable or contagious
disease, but has no jurisdiction over
vicious animals. This dog in ques-
ton after he had bitten little Mar
guerite was placed under observa-
ton for about sixteen days, and at
the end of that time his condition
was reported normal, the health Of
ficials giving the owner to under
stand that there would be no need of
destroying the animal.
While the authorities are telling
how powerless they are to act, little
Marguerite must stay at the home
of her grandmother, in South Orange,
because her parents are afraid to
allow her to see the dog. The latter
is permitted to roam about its own
home.
The child was bitten about a month
ago and Immediately her father had
the wound cauterized. She finally
became so worried over the bite, fear
ing that she was going to get hydro
phobia, playmate having died from
the disease about a year ago, that
she became subject to convulsions
and had to be removed to the City
Hospital for treatment. On Labor
Day she was discharged from the in
stitution, the doctors advising that
she be kept away from sight of the
dog. 1t was to carry out this order
that the child was sent to her grand
mothers.