The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-03
SHOULD FORCE
DOG MUzzL|NG
LAWS SHOULD BE PASSED AND
STRICTLY ENFORCED IN EV-
cry COUNTY IN FLORIDA. :.

Which DO you consider more val
liable, your dog or your life?
Which is really worth more to the
community? Have you any right, NOR
al or legal, deliberately to imperiI any
human life, your own or that of an
other citizen, when such risk arises
entirely from the satisfaction of a SEN
timent personal to yourself alone?
The answer seems to be ready and
quick in words, at least but by their
acts hundreds of Floridians are pla-
cling a higher value on their dogs
than on the Gods given privilege of hui
man life.
Not many weeks ago the police of
one of F1Orida's largest cities were in
structed to enforce the dog muZzle or
dinanCe which for months has been a
dead letter on the municipal law books.
The police force were told to arrest the
owners of dogs who allowed their pets
to roam unmuZzled, and in case the
owners should not be found or identi-
fed, to shoot the dogs. Both parts OF
the order were carried out and a
large number of dogs were killed.
The Office of the police captain was
stormed by angry dog owners. Some
of them even threatened to bring suit
for alleged damages against the city
and in other ways made themselves
The officer stood firmly by
his men and told the irate kICHers:
The ordinance we are trying to en-
force positively asserts that no dogs
shall be allowed to run at large I'M
in the streets of the city Be
fore the police began shooting dogs
publicity was given to the matter and
dog owners were warned. In comply
ing with orders there is no distinction
between a fine dog. pet dog or a
worthless canine. All dogs look alike,
and if the owners care enough for
their pets to complain of their death
I'M a ha
which will prevent their animals from
being killed"
Rather plain talk, that, and refresh
ing, too It's too bad that public Of
fcials who are clothed with authority
to protect the community. don't indulge
in that kind of conversation oftener
and then back it up by performing their
sworn duty.
If you, citizen. and a householder
in Florida, owned a pet lion or Ben
gal tiger that you were fond Of and
allowed allowed 1t to roam at large, it
wouldn't be very long before the Of
fiCers of the law would kill it and they
ask your permission before
they shot. If in the meantime this
pet of yours had breakfasted onL~one
or two of your neighbors, you would
probably be held on the charge of man.
slaughter in some degree or another,
and unless you had some kind of pull,
It Is quite likely that you would con-
tribute your services to the state for
several years with only your board |
and clothes for wages. And it would
serve you right
\ mad dog is a wild animal, fust as
wild and dangerous as a lion or tiger |
1t is quite likely to cause the death of
some innocent person and you would |
be just as responsible for that death !
as if it had been caused by wild beast |
from the jungles which you were har-
boring as a pet. Your dog is quite as
likely to become infected with the vi |
rus of hydrophObia. as that of any |
ship does not protect the dog from the |
neither does it protect the |
from the danger Of that |
dog being at large, a menace and a |
nuisance.
Human life is more precious than a |
log. more serious than the sentiment |
that insists on maintaining the dos |
when 1t is known that he may become |
1 cause Of the death to innocent per |
sons. Already there has been too great |
l sacrifice in Florida to a maudlin !
sentiment about dogs, in the horrible |
Deaths of infants and adults, on the |
altar Of absolute, obstinate, selfish |
Not only on the streets
md highways of FlOrida's cities and |
'ural sections does this danger threat
n continually and increasingly, but
sven in the very homes, where, if any
where, it would seem that life should |
Re safe from violence. Literally this
$ true, for twice within recent months
n Duval county, have mad dogs rushed |
through open doors and attacked help
ess children in the privacy and sup
'osed safety Of their homes. 1t may
,e your child and your home next
ime
This is a matter potentially personal
o every citizen Of Florida and to thei
trangers within our gates. Many
in the state have wisely !
-dopted laws to protect them from
he menace of the mad dog. and I'M !
wisely and wickedly have failed to en-
orCe these laws. When the effort j.
made to revive these ordinances by (.
excessively enforcing them, the re
possible offenders howl. They declare /
hat their individual rights as free |
american citizens have been fnfringed. |
they insist that they have the right /
o allow their dogs to run abroad by Il
ay and by night unmuZzled, and If by II
nance some unprotected child. q de- II
enseless woman or a strong man is
ttacked and death comes in its most
horrible form. they declare that it Is
10 affair of theirs II
Modern science has discovered no
ther or surer way Of protection