Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-09
Classes Dog Muzzling as
Relic of Dark Ages
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Which is worse, the torture Of being
a muZzled dog or the torture Of seeing
muZzlcd dog? One gifted with that
seemingly rare quality called mag.
ination might quickly answer, The
torture Of seeing one"
AS many compromising friends Of
the animal have patiently pointed
out, to muzzle a dog deprives him of
a number Of the means that nature
has expressly given him to provide
for life and comfort. To muzzle a
dog takes away his freedom to
breathe. shuts off his principal outlet
for perspiratlOn and surplus heat, pre-.
vents him from obtaining drink to al
lay his thirst and seriously interferes
with his methods of elf-preservation
from attacks of other animals and
from prosecuting insects and humans.
If a closely muzzled dog should stray
away from those who are supposed
to look after his wants, and be lost.
he Is absolutely helpless, and at the
mercy of hunger, thirst and every
other enemy, and rendered dumb by
mans cruel device.
There used to be a time when dogs
were muzzled only during what were
called by wise humans dog days"
Now the time has been extended until
1t seems to include the whole Sum.
mer. no matter how temperate the
weather. We surely have had no
weather in Washington this season
which calls, by any stretch of the
imagination, for the muzZling of dogs,
yet on recent morning l saw a poor
creature madly Juggling at his bonds
with despair in his eyes. How Self-re-
specting and supposedly thinking hui
man beings can look at such sights and
not hang their heads in shame at hui
man cowardice is a puzzle indeed. Many
a one who would shrink from any de-
liberate cruelty to an animal will look
tolerantly and indifferently at a muZ-
zled dog, perhaps with a self-satisfied
feeling of safety. But what is safety
bought at such a price? Very quickly
we name him coward who would win
his own welfare at the expense of n
brother man. Does not the same ap-
ply to human beings who, with all
their so-called superiority in strength
and intellect, think to protect them
selves at the cost of such suffering
imposed upon so faithful and intel
ugent u friend?
How many dogs, in proportion to
biting human beings? The total would
be miserably insignificant in compari-
son with the number of human beings
who have offered violence to their fell
low men. Yet we do not put all the
people in the country in Jail on the
chance that another one of those still
at liberty might hurt some one. How
many auto drivers, ruthlessly or
otherwise, have caused the injury or
death of human beings? Yet we do
not tie up all the remaining autos for
lear there might be further victims
AS George II. Brown said recently in
connection with tho sentencing Of a
dog to death for killing Il sheep, by
the Circuit Court OF Frederick County,
Va, I'VE seem to be getting ready in
this country for revival of the stake
and the block" What a dignified and
noble welding of the mighty arm of
the law. A dog does not commit a
crime when he kills q sheep, any more
than bird commits a crime when he
eats worm. Most Of tho so-callcd
mad" dogs who bite and terrify pco.
pie would no doubt be perfectly justi-
fled. according to the Mosaic law, If
could be known.
Such n law as the dog-muZzling law
Ia certainly not the product of intel
ligcnco even such as is used in deal.
Ing with human beings and their re-
lations to each other; nor is it the
product OF any slightest degree of
sympathy and understanding. 1t is no
doubt tho product OF purely CONNER
cial interests. 1t is a law which would
find It's proper setting in the dark
ages. In the midst of fear, ignorance
and superstition. 1t ls no proper
connection with the h1ssted enlight-
eminent and civilization of the twen-
'tieth century in this "land of the
free. z. and is.a denial Of .Christianitv.,