The Washington herald., 1913-03-27
NEW YORK HOSPITAL
FOR DUMB. ANIMALS
Soon to Be Built by New York WON.
ems League for the Halt
and the Blind.
by FRANCES sHAFFER.

The hospital for animals soon to be
built by the New York women's
League for Animals will be the first
animal hospital in this country. 1t will
be ready for its work next fall, 1t is
hoped. when its doors will be opened
to the lame, the halt and the blind in
the world OF dumb creatures.
And the best Of it is that veterinary
care can be had almost for the asking,
as the sanatorium will be maintained
through voluntary contributions The
work is intended as an assistance to
the poor who cannot afford large fees
when their horses or other animals
are in need of skillful treatment
The president of the league, Mrs.
James Speyer, who is deeply interested
in dumb animals and in spreading the
gospel Of kind treatment, made a study
of animal hospitals In Europe. and many
of the ideas that she CLEANED in her in
vestigation have been incorporated in
the big building, where there is room
and a welcome for sick or disabled
horses. dogs, cats and other animals.
Every device known for handling sick
or injured animals will be installed in
the hospital. and the operating room
will be complete in its equipment Spe-
cialists will be on duty for the treat
ment Of emergency cases and all kinds
of cases. There will be box stalls. single
stalls and padded stalls. special kitchens,
special foods and special cooks, and
there will be a separate room for each
kind OF animal. And up on the top of
the building will be a roony paddock,
open TO the air and sunshine, where
horses may enjoy everything TO help
them on their way TO recovery and re-
newed usefulness.
Another Good Work.
This is not the first good work done
by the Women's League. For there is
its Mountain Rest farm, a rest home.
which extends its hospitality to horses
run down through the ravages of dis
ease or crowded almost to the break
ing point through overwork, underfeed-
ing. and. worst of all. abuse.
And there is its Animal News"
brisk little publication with the we'll
defined aim of promoting humane treat
ment of all varieties of dumb animals
and of urging little folk and big folk
10 remember the right. Of their speech
less friends.
There. too. is its free dispensary.
where a poor man may stop for advice
and treatment of the horse upon which
he depends for hi. daily living. and may
leave with n word of thanks and moth
ing more. if that is all he has to give.
For the dispensary freely gives It's serv-
Ices to horses, dogs. cats. birds and other
animals of low degree. And among those
who cannot buy them II distributes nom
slipping chain shoes. which mean a lot
to a working horse on an icy morning
when the load ie heavy. the hill long
and steep and the ordinary shoes very
insecure.
Then there Is its work on the side the
work of dealing with cruel drivers and
OF helping the down and OUT among
dumb animals on the city streets
And there's its infiuence-which no one
can measure. or even guess.
Deserve Help.
And some folk say II is pity to de-
vote so much care. so much thought and
money to "strays" in the cat and dog
kingdom. TO horses that are half-starved.
sick and otherwise miserable. and to all
dumb creatures, regardless OF their kind
or of their rank. Because there are
hungry men and women. the neglected
half-starved children. and the Ill and suf-
fering everywhere.
And so there are.
But one Of the sorry, sorry sights IN
every city, big or little is work-worn
horse. uncertainty stumbling along when
its work-days ought to be over. It is
only the few that are set free from their
grind OF work to learn the joy OF abund-
ant pasture and well-earned rest The
majority remain in harness TO the end os
their days often dropping on the street
in the midst of their labors. And they
are not working for themselves, like men
and women: they are humble servitors,
and nothing more. big, proud, and beauti-
ful. when we'll cared for and loved as
they deserve to be, but dropping. woe
begone. and miserable when neglect or
abuse Is their portion.
And while we need more homes for
disabled men and women and more re-
treats for the wee morsels OF humanity.
there is room for some sort OF haven for
mans great servant and friend-the
horse
And the Woman's League is doing fine
work in behalf Of the horse and OF other