New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
Organization Believes in
Less Drastic Rule to
Govern Pets. E.
ADVOCATES EITHER
MUZZLE OR LEASH
Also Thinks Type of Restraining
Device Should Be Light, Per-
hitting More Freedom.

The Dog Lovers Protective Associa-
ton. after a thorough investigation Of
the workings Of the muzzling law now
in force in this city. has evolved what
il believes will be an efficient substi-
! tute for the unnecessarily severe meas
ure now in force.
The association was primarily the
outgrowth of the recent agitation
against the combined muzzling and
leashinG ordinance. out its officials
wish it clearly understood that the
organization was not formed TO oppose
the Board of Health in its efforts to
insure the safety Of the public, but
rather 70 cid the board by advocating
and supporting effective but less dras-
tic remedies.
The D. L P. A. believes that IAN
ounce OF prevention is worth a pound
Of muzzles." and that the public can
best safeguard itself by looking after
the health and wellbeinG OF its dogs;
that il is not in the well cared for
dog that the danger lies. but in the
stray, neglected animal all too common
In our streets.
The following embodies the results
OF the associations labors along these
lines:
First-That all dogs on public thor
oughfares be either muzzled or on a
leash, not both
Second-An ordinance requiring all
dogs TO be licensed, the license tag
being large enough to be readily seen
by officers on the streets. Owners
should put their names and addresses
~ ha 10 af
the collar.
Third-An advisory committee Of
say, five members. who shall be repre-
sentative of dog owners in New York
City, who shall advise with the A. S.
T. c. A. and the Board of Health in
deylslng ways and means for econOmi-
cally and effectively Kidding the streets
of stray and unlicensed dogs. and prop
erly safeguarding the interests of dog
owners and the public
Fourth.-That this same committee
should consult with the Board of
Health and the A. s. p. c. A. with
the view Of adopting a uniform muzzle
that viii be both effective and hu-
name
The order has gone forth from the
Health Department that all dogs shall
be muzzled regardless Of age or size.
- SiAo44 NOF AOS uUQtI NOukIOl DIV q
leash and accompanied By its owner
should not be required to wear muz-
zle.
Furthermore, nothing has been stip-
ulated about the kind of muzzle In
fact, in an interview. the Health Com
missioner said that he had not stipu-
lated the kind OF muZZle required, and
this fact accounts for the various de-
grees Of cruelty in the method used by
owners TO comply with the law.
A dogs only means Of perspiring is
through its mouth; therefore a muzzle
that tightly closes a dogs mouth, es-
pecially during the hot summer
months, IS cruel in the extreme and
should never be tolerated in a civilized
community.
A humane muzzlc would seem 10 be
one Of the basket type, made OF very
light leather straps or aluminium and
roomy enough 20 permit the dog TO
open its mouth to perspirc. The dog
Will become accustomed 20 this kind
as quickly as any other, and will be
much more comfortable and healthier,
and the public will be perfectly safe
from whatever dangers there may be.
Many dogs seem happier muzzled
properly with freedom 10 run about
than on a leash unmuzzled: with
others the reverse Is true. If every
dog on the streets were properly
licensed. accompanied by its owne,
or caretaker and either muzzled or
leashed, the dog problem in the city
would be solved
The D. L. P. a. asks the support
and aid of every man and woman
who is a dog owner or interested in
their welfare in the appeal TO the
Board Of Health for its cooperation
along the above lines, and a reason
able modification Of the present
drastic ordinance requiring all dogs,
regardless Of size. to be both muzzled
and leashed at the same time