Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-09
S. P. c. A. Notes

There was some discussion yester-
day at the convention of Federated
humane Societies of Pennsylvania on
the effect of the alien dog act. Some
OF the women delegates were inclined
to think it worked unnecessary hard
ship in not permitting a foreigner to
own a pet dog. The Interpretation of
this law by the Attorney General says
TINS conception is unwarranted and
the only animals destroyed are
Vagrants and those which are a
menace to community.
Frank McGrann, of Lancaster. him
self game warden and secretary of
the poultry association, is greatly in
favor of the law. He said DR.. Kalbfus
has prepared a pamphlet which en-
deavors to see that none of the game
laws are misconstrued. With a paid
game warden in each district whose
duty it is to instruct foreigners, 1t is
not usual to have pet animals killed.
There is no end to the dogs claimed
by our foreign population, the largest
of any State in the Union. An alien
can rarely be induced to kill a dog,
whether he has money to feed il or
not. Thus without restriction in GER
tam sections it would be impossible to
raise sheep or poultry, not to mention
the total destruction of game, in
short time.
AS Mr.. McGrann pointed out. sheen
and poultry are destroyed by the
aliens dogs in great numbers. Cruelty
committed against them is just as
reprehensible as when a dog is the
victim. We must therefore have some
laws to protect other interests
Concerning an agitation to prohibit
trained animals for exhibition pur-
poses, Calvin G. Christie, of Butler.
made 1t plain that such law would
not be feasible, as a man training his
horse to trot for a race would be
liable to prosecution. Legislators will
not take up thing of that kind and
multiplicity of laws not enforced is
worse than none.
On the other hand, any proven
cruelty, can be prosecuted whenever
and Wherever committed, under the
laws of 1869, which covers almost
every known form of ill-treatment of
animals.
Mrs. Mary F. Lowell. of Jenkintown
disagreed utterly with this view of
the trained animal question. She has
gone into the subject carefully and
has written an article in the Humane
Review on the cruelty entailed bv This
Iorm or amusement for the public
Whlle acknowledging that animals can
be trained by kindness, ii takes more
time therefore, she says, is less rarely
used than fear as a motive power. She
urged everyone present. if not wi1linpr
TO work for legislation now. to he q
creator Of sentiment against cruelty of
animal trainers to the brutes in their
power.
Where the heart is full of love and
pity for suffering animals much Can
be done without money or power. Mr.
Christy. of Butler, told yesterday of
woman in Jefferson county who for
years ran humane society of her
own and did splendid rescue and
educative work almost unassisted II
was not long until she enlisted the aid
of the magistrates and constahIes In
her section and prosecutions were pos
sible whenever cruelty was proved
Mrs. Lowell. of the woman's Penn
syiyania s. p C.: A: of Philadelphia.
said yesterday that she firmly he,
lieves If there had been in Eurone .
thorough humane education in the
broad and full sense for the last
generation the present cruel wa,
would never have come.