Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-28

Jority of dogs are useless and the amount
OF food which they eat in the light of food
rationing and the scarcity of certain meats,
should be restricted TO human use
Nothing could be more destructive to
morale than for us TO be compelled TO slaugh-
ter mans best friend. Ugly rumors to the
contrary, no such thoughts are held by any
one In authority
In war as well as peace the dog contributes
his bit whether he be tiny Chihuahua or a
Great Dane. have never known such an ami
NAL as a useless" dog. Today the pets that
comprise the population Of the dog world are
answering the call for about effort just as
their human owners are.
listened the other night 70 the popular
radio commentator Gabriel Heater while he
was making one OF the most eloquent and
sanest addresses have ever heard upon this
subject. II should go far TO correct this wrong
thinking. and by Mr. Heaters permission il
Is included here
Mr.. Heater told his vast radio audience
Nov that food rationing has come there
IL quite an argument in New York where sug-
gestions were made recently TO get rid OF all
dogs in order 10 save whatever food they'll
consume. Those who propose II say well have
10 forget all sentiment and become grinlv
realistic and realize when people are being
asked TO eat less we can't afford TO worry
about dogs.
We'll, insofar an IL affects me personally.
1t won't ever be any great problem My dog
can have half Of what am entitled to
morning, noon and highland when there
isn't enough for both of us he can have any
part Of whatever I am entitled to-
III get by without food when have to
I doubt if could ever get by without dog.
II can survive hunger where my stomach
is concerned-I doubt If could face all the
hunger my soul would feel IL / had to give
up my dog.
Forget sentiment? You might as we'll
say forget every decent ideal for which we are
fighting Is liberty anything more than a
noble sentiment Is alt the outrage and pain
and hurt we feel when others suffer anything
more than noble sentiment?
My devotion for my dog and his for me
are born of all that very thing which inspires
a man TO fight injustice And when more men
and women have learned kindness and devo-
ton to animals more of us will practice It in
our human relationships.
I'm give what is left of my useless life
gladly for this war-and my last dollar and
all the work of my head and hands--but If
mankind ever came to a pass where it was
necessary to kill off my dog am afraid I'd
turn in my own membership too and say any
one who wants 1t is welcome to the world
remaning-it won't be much
There Is still enough food wasted in any
hundred restaurants in any large city to feed
all the nations dogs-a good many children
who ought to have more too.
"No-take my food-take all you need
but leave me my dog and I'll get by"
There is a growing dog army serving in
diligently and Loyalty under the American
Qaer -,
Shepherds, Reviewers, Settlers, Newfound-
lands Great Danes, Dobermans. and other
large dogs are guarding lonely beaches, war
plants and supply depots Others have been
carefully trained to act as messenger carriers,
as scouts TO find the hidden wounded on re-
mote battlefields, to act as sled dogs and pack
animals. Today according to Brig Gen.
William r. White, dogs are even spotting Jap
snipers for our lads in the Solomons.
On the home front, they are providing eyes
for the blind and guarding sheep and cattle
on farm and ranch. being virtually indispen-
sable in the face of scarcity of manpower
AS for the Smaller dogs, whether they be
Scotties Dachshunds, Cookers, or Terriers,
they too are serving. At the beginning of the
war, England destroyed a number of these
smaller dogs to her everlasting regret And
one of the valuable lessons we learned from
our British ally when we entered the war was
to take care of our smaller dogs and cats. For
the English found that without them to check
the increase Of mice and rats the menace of
bubonic plague and other rodent borne dis
eases became imminent So aware have the
British become of the value of small dogs that
today hundreds of special air raid shelters are
provided for them.
And what Of the toy breeds the tiniest
members Of the canine family? They too are
carrying on in the home guard and the morale
division. Some of the smallest pets have been
heroes and have sounded the alarm when such