Evening star., 1943-07-04
BY r. r. TAYNTON.

The continued incidence of rabies
in the District and in nearby Vir-
ginia and Maryland is having sew
eral salutary effects on the dog
owning population of this area. The
increased vigilance of humane and
other law enforcement officers and
the enforcement of quarantine laws
in the affected regions have made
dog owners conscious of their duty
to both dogs and neighbors. Fewer
household pets are being allowed to
roam the streets and to molest Vic
tory and other gardens.
Dogs which are allowed to roam
or which escape from confinement
stand in greater danger than ever
of being picked up by the dog
catcher. And right now, the dog
catcher is not fooling with them
His accommodations are too cramp-
ed to hold any dog more than the
legal three days in the hope that
somebody will come along and bail
the poor victim out. At the end
of three days, poor Fido is put out
Use LeIndI SHAHUeT 11cTc.
II he is picked up in the District,
he goes via the lethal chamber of
the local pound. Unfortunately,
neither nearby Maryland nor near
by Virginia has this humane
method of disposing of unwanted
pets. The Arlington County Pound
on South Glebe Road has been en-
larged and improved and soon will
be equipped with lethal chamber
Neither Montgomery nor Prince
Georges Counties in Maryland have
any humane way of taking care OF
their stray dog population. How
ever, there is pound of sorts on
Leland street and Beech drive In
Rock Creek Park.
The confinement and supervision
of all pet dogs will go far in stamp
ing out not only rabies but many
prejudices that nondog owners
have against dogs. The elimination
of destructive and dangerous stray
dogs will help in the elimination OF
a growing sentiment against pet
owning in wartime. This sentiment
is fostered by people who have
phobias against all animals: it il
augmented by irate gardeners and
poultry raisers. especially those
amateurs who have not taken the
precaution of fencing their prop
erty; 1t includes the selfish and the
timid who raise a cry of food short.
ages. The best defense against
these dog saboteurs is well-trainec
dog population that is always under
the direct control of its owners. AL
other dogs are unwilling fifth col
umnists.
Bulldog Club Elects.
The Washington Bulldog Club re.
Gently elected new officers. Presi.
dent is Arthur Forbush, who actec
as first president for this organiza.
ton when it was formed two years
ago. DR.. John Elvin is vice presi.
dent; j. B. Whelan, secretary; T. c
Maxwell, treasurer; J. A. Allen
bench chairman, and w. L. Schulz
chief steward and trophy chairman
This Is a compact and active group
eager to promote not only theil
favorite breed but a good specially
show for their breed.
Tom Maxwell, treasurer of the
Washington Bulldog Club, has ar
interesting story to relate about hi.
Miles Bonny. Bonny suddenly dis.
appeared a little over six months
ago. The only clue to her going was
garden gate slightly ajar, a gate
that had been closed carefully wher
Bonny was let out for her morning
exercise. Repeated advertisements
and offers of reward brought no re.
suits. Visits to the Animal Rescue
League and to the pound were un.
fruitful. Every possible clue wa.
traced with no success. Requests tt
be notified whenever a bulldog wa.
impounded were ignored, yet Ton
visited the pound whenever he heare
through other dog seekers that 6
bulldog was there. After six months
after he had lost hope Of regaining