Evening star., 1925-12-06
DEFENDS CONDITION
AT animal FARM
Animals Well Cared For and
Treated When III, J. P.
Heap Declares.

washington Humane Society, has
prepared a statement for The Star in
which he takes issue with the article
In last Sundays Star reporting con-
ditions on the farm as found at that
time.
The statement follows:
Il have read the article from one
or Your reporters in Sundays Star
os November 80 also editorial in
Mondays issue. in reference to con-
ditions at the BE Kind to Animals
Rest Farm" near Potomac Md. con-
Quoted by the Humane Education
Society. Being interested in the
welfare of animals and for the past
20 years secretary OF the Washing
ton Humane Society. and at the re-
quest of several OF its members, !
made a personal visit TO the farm OF
Wednesday, the 2nd. While there
| carefully inspected every animal on
The premises. including horses. cows
dogs and cats, and must say III all
honesty and fairness that the state
ments in the article of The Star are
10 put it mildly. very greatly eX-
agSerated and grossly unfair and un-
just to the Humane Education So
cicty and its management.
Dog Cared For
EoklnE up in detail the charges
made by Your reporter: The small
dog. whose picture was shown. was
lhere and was poor and thin, as
shown. but was in that condition and
worse when brought TO the farm
two weeks ago. Then it could not
Stand up or walk on account Of
starva ton. Now. under the minis
tation OF the veterinary and the
caretaker. it can run about and eat.
1t ls given. four times a day. medi-
cine prescribed by the veterinary for
the purpose Of stimulating its appe-
tite and building up wasted tissues.
and is given all the food suitable
TO its condition that it can or viii
eat. The veterinary assures Mr.
Briggs that in time it will recover
and take its place among the other
dogs as healthy and vigorous ami
NAL. This is simply case of a
poor friendless dog being rescued
from starvation. and the society
should be commended rather than
condemned for its humanity.
Inc group of puppies shown in the
picture were as lively as puppies of
their age could he and presented no
Evidences OF starvation or neglect.
The picture must have been taken
Just after feeding time. when they
We're full, contented and disposed TO
sleep rather than play. and does not
1ndlcate undernouriShment
Another dog was referred to as hay-
ing been kicked by a horse and its
mind parts paralyzed and depicted as
beng allowed TO drag himself around
the place by painful movement Of his
Ioreiees, the rear Of his body helpless.
IN this case the animal was aCci-
dentally kicked by "a horse on the
farm. Immediately after the accident
IL was taken to the veterinary for
treatment and everything possible
done for it to relieve its suffering and
restore it to health. AS l saw this
dog it was in good flesh, we'll nour-
1shed and as lively and cheerful as
any on the place. excepting that it
could not use its hind legs. 1t ate
heartily and seemed to be in no pain.
fs getting all the care possible. and
the Veterinary says that in time il
viii recover the&Ise OF its hind legs. |
have known several persons, both men
and women. stricken with paralysis.
who could not Use an arm or leg. but
who, nevertheless suffered no pain.
and | can easily believe an animal in
that condition does not suffer.
Found No Distemper.
1.-THE dog referred to as posing
for it's photograph by painfully rails
ing itself on it's forelegs. then slump
y
as an old dog, infirm from age. which
preferred to lie down rather than
stand. 1t laso was in that condition
when brought to the farm.
Il could finsl no evidence of distem-
per among any of the animals. and
only one case OF the mango, and in
that the dog was segregated from the
others and almost entirely cured. al.
though the hair on its body had not
grown out. and as a consequence it
appeared unsightly. 1t. however.
seemed we'll nourished and was as
lively and active as any Of them.
Among the exaggerated statements
al the reporter Is this: photographs
of scenes about the farm which We're
turned in by the staff photographer
were too revolving. in the ma jority of
cases, to Justify their reproduction
I should like to see those photograph
7 looked carefully for these revolving
cases, but could find none. If correct
photographs of every animal on the
farm and every possible scene could
be had would willingly challenge any
sane person with unbiased judgment
truthfully TO say any were revolving.
Your reporter stresses the fact that
there are some sick and emaciated
animals on the farm. The manager
claims. and I fully believe him, that
these few cases, such as they are, not
lore than four including those have
described above. were brought there
in that condition or worse. If the re-
porter will visit any hospital in this
city or elsewhere, he will find numer-
Gus inmates who are sick and emaci-
ated, but they were brought there for
that reason. Why not cry out against
the hospitals and call them cruel?
Housed and Fed Well.
FINALLY: The seven horses, two
COWS and one calf were housed in a
commodlous and comfortable barn
with plenty Of good hay, corn. oats
and other feed. plenty of good clean
bedding and were in excellent condi-
tion. The cats. 25 or 80 in number.
are housed in good comfortable, we'll
heated building with a good large COW
cred runway where they could get on
the ground at their pleasure. plenty of
feed and water and in as good condi-
lion as any house cat in any city
hCme. Nearly all Of the dogs are kept
in kennels in comfortable building,
with plenty Of clean. bright straw bed
dirg, we'll sheltered from the elements,
a free runway of 40 to 60 feet, are we'll
led once a day with plenty Of good
wholesome food and water. and, with
tho exceptions Of the cases above
noted, which We're brought there sick
o, in a starved condition, not one Of
them appeared undernourished.
'Jr the contrary, they We're in as
good condition, sleek, clean and fat as
:ae ordinary city dog. In fact, some
OF them were fatter than they should
be. Those not in kennels have the
free run of the farm and house. AS
rule dogs are kept in separate ken
nels. the exception being in case of
small. peaceably disposed ones, where
two or more are kept together. The
eninll puppies are kept in the house