The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-06
Topeka Going
To Dogs City :
Books Indicate
Large Increase in Highbrow CANNES,
But NameIess Mongrels- Still Hold
"Choir Practice" and "Molar Bat
tlesr Here.

Topeka is going to the dogs"
Not only do packs of namelesS, un-
kempt and unclaimed mongrels roam
the city streets, chase each other
across gardens. bury bones in front
yards and worry the cats almost out
of their nine lives but the number OF
highbrow CANNES is increasing yearly.
Since January 1 there have been
100 dogs registered at the city clerks
office for the 1920 license tags. For
the corresponding period a year ago
there were 131 registered and for the
same period two years ago only seven
ty-two. In 1918 taxes were paid on
1911 dogs. Last year licenses for
1869 CANNES were issued and this year
the number promises to break all
records.
City Action May Be Cause.
1t is possible, of course, that the
drastic action taken by the city IN re-
lation to dogs running loose without
collars has led to greater registration
and that there has really been no in
crease in the actual dog population
Certain it is that in the last year or
two more "ownerless" CANNES have
been disposed of at the city pound
than ever before. The fact remains
however, that the city clerks books
show an increase.
Tt is hard to estimate the number OF
"ownerless' dogs in the city, but it is
not hard to identify them The dog
without a home is sneaking, slouching
and timid. He is a coward and thief,
made so by the iron hand of circum-
stances. He ekes out a pitiful exist
ence in the dumps and alley of the
town, roaming the streets by day and
filching his meals at night from the
garbage cans at back doors. Like
company he keeps. He mingles with
unwashed, unkempt ours and mon
grels. Rocks are SHE'D at him by
small boys and he is picked on by his
more aggressive kind which have
legitimate homes. He sleeps upon the
cold ground, never knowing the joy
of stretching himself by a warm fire
side on n winter night and is so ac-
customed to kicks and cuffs that even
tually he fails to recognize the touch
of human kindness. And at last,
when the night time of his existence
falls and he is caught in the net of the
dog catcher, he lies down. 'unwept.
unhonored and unsung," a life that
has been miserable in all its prospects.
"Chapcrons' Becoming Lax.
But still the number OF tramp dogs
seems to increase and the chaperon-
ing of owners appears to grow more
lax Mayor H. J. Corwine, whose
home is in Potwin, recently conferred
with the city dog catcher as to what
might be done with thirty dogs" who
use his front yard for an athletic field.
auditorium, gymnasium and gladia-
torial arena They assemble every
morning before daylight FOR choir
practice. They stage moiar encoun-
ters and marathons and engage in
physical exercises reputed to promote
long life
1t is Interesting to note the names of
the dogs registered at the clerks Of
flee. OF course. there are plenty of
the good old-fashioned names like,
Shep, Towser. Bruno and Fido. But
there are also a variety of new ones
which have been originated In the las,
few years. like new words which can
not be found in an old dictionary.
Names Have Meanings.
For instance: s"Woodrov Wilson"
is a poodle, and he is not too proud
to fight; Mutt is a Spitz with a long
nose, and Tango" is a Boston bull
who dances With delight at the pros
pect of a bone. Jazz IS a fox ter
rier who jazzes UP behind one and
takes a bite of heel. Day" is an
English bull who barks at night. ana
Pup" is bloodhound Of large pro-