Evening star., 1940-01-05

Southwest Resident Says
Conines' HowIing
Is Nuisance
To the Editor OF The Star:
It is 2 am. as this letter is begun!
am fully awake and almost mad, having
vainly endeavored to return to sleep after
quietening the outcries of my baby
daughter. Half of the lights in the 56
apartments at Sternberg Courts are
burning brightly, indicating that many
Of my neighbors have been equally un-
successful in wooing Morpheus following
our periodic nocturnal visit from Wash
ington's modernized version of Siberian
wolfpack Hundreds of other families
across the street in the Kober Apart
ments and throughout the neighborhood
are no more fortunate.
Seventeen snarling dogs (by actual
count Of every size and breed imaginable
made up the motley crew which attacked
us tonight. They came not unannounced
their pentup brethren could be heard
far in the distance before they descended
upon us in full force about an hour ago.
Armed only with clothespins and other
harmless ammunition we were at dis
advantage dislodging them from the
warm retreat which the inner court of
our buildings afforded them from bitter,
wintry winds. However, finally dispersed,
their yelping chorus becomes fainter as
they race of to awaken our friends resid-
ing to the east. Thus we are tortured
half dozen times month.
The pandemonium of a vagrant dog
pack puts all other forms Of clamorous
disturbance to shame. logs in the vicin-
ity which are unable to get out, join the
mob in spirit and in voice, creating a
turmoil which is indescribable and un-
believable. And when the visitors have
departed you continue to be kept awake
by the incessant bowling of dogs belong
ing to neighbors. Some of these MAIN
tain apparently well-stocked kennels in
the rear Of very small quarters.
calls in the past, brought the response
that there is nothing they can do OF
course, there isn't They aren't equipped
to handle dogs. That's the poundmas-
ters job. But any compaint to Pound
master Marks brings the mournful an
fully inadequate even to operate one
lone pound wagon on an eight-hour daily
shift. Hence, no one is on duty at the
pound from pm. to II pm, with only
watchman from II pm. to am.
Where bowling dog in neighborhood
is public nuisance, known to all nearby
residents, one would think that complaint
to the police would bring about a sup
preston of the nuisance or the arrest of
the owner. Perish the thought! The
police tell us that they have no authority
(and this likewise applies to the pound
MASTER, to swear out warrants on their
own information or knowledge against
owners Of such dogs. 1t is incumbent
upon residents of the neighborhood
themselves to enter into public contro-
versy with the dog owner by swearing
out warrant against him, subsequently
spending many days at Police Court
during the course Of the prosecution.
Obviously few citizens wish to subject
themselves to the possibility of suit for
malicious prosecution or to engage in
neighborhood feuds. Such Interpretation
Of the regulations serves to stimulate dog
poisoning and hatred Of innocent (albeit
badly traineO dogs by law-abiding people
who wish no quarrel with their neigh
bors, but ask only for quiet, peaceful
nights, free from the call of the wild"
1t is idle to expect citizens to crawl
through streets and alleys in the vicinity
of their homes to determine the identity
of occupants who may be harboring
animals which are constantly destructive
of peace and good order in the COM
munity. When man is guilty of dis
orderly conduct, so as to disturb his
neighbors, he is subject to arrest by a
policeman witnessing the disorder. Tes-
timony in court from the offended neigh
bors is not an absolute requirement. Why
should any different rule apply to dis
order occasioned by an animal, and per-
mitted by its owner in cases where the
police officer is possessed of positive
proof that its nightly barking and howl
ing is constant public nuisance?
Countless unlicensed dogs roam the
streets at night, returning home in the
morning. Their masters are free from
the worry of having them picked up by
the poundmaster because they know he
maintains no night crew.
Although Washington's dog quota has
more than kept up with its increase in
population, the facilities for apprehend-
ing and caring for homeless and unli-
censed dogs have remained without
much improvement since the turn of the
century. Not only is this bad for the
dogs but for the state of our treasury
as well. Although about $4,000 have
been collected thus far this fiscal year
from the owners of $4,000 dogs Cat the
rate OF 81 per ncense), it is estimated
that there are close to $4,000 dogs in this
city. The loss of all that revenue is hard
to reconcile with the budget of the Dis
trict Pound which amounts to only
$1o,79o for the current year, including
personnel, equipment and dog food
Seemingly fine example of penny