Oxford eagle., 1918-01-31

b. the r2venous breed that range the
countryside without restraint Herds
Of cattle are beset by the snarling
enemies Barn yards are pillaged by
the hungry four-footed thieves. They
menace the health of the State. They
carry contagious maladies from com
munity 70 community. Allowed to
roam At large, uncared for and un-
trained, these brutes become vicious.
They revert to the wild state Of de-
vouring beasts. Half-staTved and
filthy, the unkept animals become es-
pecIally subject to the deadly hydro
phobia. The dog, alone of all domes-
tic animals. has forced man to erect
hospitals to care for the victims of
its bite. Children and adults are in
daily danger of horrible death.
In these times Of food shortage, the
CAME ho.des become doubly serious.
They destroy a considerable amount
Of the necessities of life. They con-
sumo material part Of the State,
resources. The cost to Virginia
amounts to millions annually.
Slckly and unreasoning sentiment
has protected the existence of these
costly and dangerous public enemies
for generations. But it is time that
reason assert itself. The State should
shake off the useless burden that il
now carries. Necessity. public vel
fare, public safety and public health
demand that the dog menace be muz-
zied before it devours Us.
The Houston. Texas. Post makes the
following editorial comment on the
sentiment expressed by Governor
Dorsey of Georgia in a recent speech
when he said: I'VE like dogs better
than sheep"
Texas Is in the same boat. Texas
people like dogs better than sheep.
And 50 long as they do. Just so long
viii Texas lose the millions Of dollars
that the sheep industry would make
for this State under proper conditions.
There are 25.O0O.00O dogs in the
United States or these. fully 20
GOO 600 are worthless and worse
they are real threat to the com
munities which permit them.
But the same food that supports =
aog vii support a hog. And the hog
does not kill sheep.
There was a time when Texas
pEairies supported 100000 sheen.
TeNas farms could today support that
number. And there is no more pro
fitable industry known 10 man.
But the sheep-killing dog Is allow
ed 10 roam over the State-and no
farmer VIII buy more sheep when his
flock has once been killed By some
wandering cur.
A special session Of the Texas Leg
islature may be an expensive invest
ment- But if it were possible to do
away with sheep-klling dogs Of Tex
as by law. such an expenditure would
be the most profitable and the most
patriotic investment this State could
make.
Tho Nashville Tennesseean. writing
on dogs and the sheep industry, says
that Tennessee should De well to the
front IN the matter Of raising sheep.
but she Is not. She viii never have
her rightful place in this valuable in
dustry until we learn TO like the sheep
better than we like the dog" Con
nnuing. the Tennesseean says:
The various farmers organizations
throughout the country should make
unanimous demand on their State
Legislatures, or. if need be. on the
Congress of the United State. for
laws that will protect the sheep Of the
country
There are many farmers who prefer
their dogs to sheep, even though the
dog may not be able to produce more
than one 'possum OF coon year.
These farmers are the ones who have
been responsible for the failure Of
every attempt yet made 10 secure dog
laws that are adequate to protect his
lucrative industry Of sheep-raising.
II is high time 10 the lawmakers Of
the country To get busy and eliminate
the worthless ours and place such e
stIlctons OF more valuable canics that
viii keep them out Of mischief The
farmer who prefers TO hunt should
not be permitted TO stand in the way
Of the farmer who wishes To make
has farm a business proposition. The
farmer who hunts the fox and the
'possum and the coon is usually
hunting something to eat during the
winter months. when he should have
spen his time in the field behind the
plow when il was time for making
the crops that should be stored for
the winter
Give US a law that viii insure the
farmer xa-hn s,xas-%. - H.. a..