Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-26
CRUELTY TO DOGS
DENIED BY LEAGUE
Animal Rescue Officials Reply
to Criticism of Former
Director.

The Community Chest is in a posi-
ton to satisfy itself and the public with
the present administration of funds
allotted to the washington Animal Res
cue League officials of the league de-
clared today in a statement issued in
reply to charges of mismanagement and
inSanitary conditions made by Mrs
Marion Stuart Cake, a former director.
Mrs. Cake, who disagreed with the
officials of the league on the method OF
executing large dogs, expressed her
views on the alleged mismanagenent of
the league in letter to the director OF
the Chest. In other letters. published
by The Star, she expressed dissatisfac-
ton with the leagues method of chloro-
forming large dogs instead OF killing
them by electrocution.
A statement issued today by the
horse committee of the league follows:
In view of the continued attack upon
the administration of the Washington
Animal Rescue League by Mrs. Marion
Stuart Cake. an erstwhile director and
co-worker, with Mrs. NJ. r. Blumenberg,
the former vice president who was re-
moved from the membership rolls OF
the league by vote at the January meet
ing of the board of directors, the house
committee has decided to refute Mrs
Cakes statements for the benefit of
that part of the public who may find
it impossible to make personal IN
spection of the league, though they are
cordially invited to do so.
Says Officer Made no Report.
when Mrs. Cake commenced visiting
the Washington Animal Rescue League
premises frequently and in a highly
excited state, some 10 days ago, she was
treated with every courtesy. When she
summoned a police officer as a witness
to our cruelty he made no report OF
the incident on the blotter at the pre-
cinct station, but said. in answer to our
query, that as far as he could see every
thing was all right; that it seemed TO
be only difference of opinion as to
whether chloroform or electricity were
the most humane method Of putting
the animals away.
"The statement that animals are
closed in chloroform boxes and slowly
SufTocated to death is without founda-
ton in fact The boxes are charged
slowly and the animal goes to sleep
quietly and easily.
ITO quote Mrs. Cake: This work of
destruction has been going on now for
more, than two weeks, as I was told
last Saturday by two of the present
officers of the league. 1t is going on
notwithstanding there is still installed, !
as there has been for years, an electric
lethal chamber, which the official in
Spection reports show is in perfect
working order
Neither of the two officers made the
statement that anything but small ami
mails were chloroformed. 1t would have
been untrue and ridiculous, since the
most skillful veterinarian service Of the |
city has been employed to put away |
the large animals and the emergency |
cases where the injured animal was too |
large for the chloroform box.
Feel no Fear Of Criticism.
I'm the letter which Mrs. Cake in
dited to the Chest in an effort to have |
our funds withheld from us she makes |
the statement and charges mismanage-
ment and insanitation. We feel that /
the Chest is competent to satisfy itself /
and the public with the present admin |
istration of the funds allotted. And |
the District health Office having given /
us a clean bill of health this week, we |
feel no fear of just criticism along that
line. She says: The place reeks with !
distemper' It would not be strange if |
a harbor such as this for the derelictS |
of dogdom did reek, but that such is I
not the case can be vouehed for by at |
least three leading veterinarians.
The house committee IS responsible |
for the discontinuance of the use of the |
electric cage. Not having the funds |
necessary for the constant attendance |
of a skilled veterinarian and trained |
help in the use of the cage, we have |
had grave doubts of the painlessness of |
the death melted out by it, and for this |
reason have discontinued its use while /
We are investigating to find and obtain |
the latest. most approved method of |
elimination, and when we have found |
it the public may rest assured it will |
be installed.
Investigation Declined.
'The house committee joins Mrs. Cake |
In the request and have even finally |
demanded to have our methods investi- |
gated by the Humane Society, but up |
TO this time have been refused by both |
the president, Mrs. Elmore, and the /
secretary, Mrs. Heap.
"The house committee is spreading |
its names upon the record here, know
ing that as each and every woman so |
named Is known so well and favorably |
for her work among animals that it |
cannot fail to convince the public that |
they would be the first to condemn any |
but the kindest treatment for the poor |
derelctS in our charge.
MRS. H. G. MOSES,
Chairman.
miss N. r. MACOMB,
MRS. WILLIAM F. HAM.
MRS I HARRY GHANNrON