Evening star., 1955-01-28
Bones Of Contention

The attitude Of -Child Lover" toward
pets made me think Of the old saying.
always be suspicious of person VINO
does not like dogs, and under no condi-
tions trust person that q dog does
not like"
.Child Lover" may love children. but
/ doubt very much that children love
him. There is no possession that child
may have from which he gets so much
pleasure as q dog Of his own. And Q
child can learn so much from grow
ing up with g. dog. He learns the
meaning of love. devotion. sacrifice
and obedience. It would be quite inter-
esting to know from all the studies of
delinquency among children Just how
many, If any, of these children owned
dog while growing up.
do not know where "Child Lover"
got his fantastic figures on rabies. but
I do know from most reliable informa-
ton that in the year 1858 there were
just II deaths from rabies. Even this
number is regrettable. but for each OF
these deaths there were probably Q
dozen instances OF dogs saving children
as well as grown ups from fire. drown
ing and exposure.
It might do Child Lover" some good
to study "A Dogs Prayer for uis Mas
ter" written by win Judy. the we'll
known dog authority and publisher OF
Dog World.
20 Lord Of Humans make my master
faithful to his fellowmen as am TO
him. Grant that he may be devoted to
his friends and family as am to him.
May he be open-faced and undecep-
tive as I am; may he be as true to trust
reposed In him as am to him.
"Give him face cheerful like unto
my wagging tail: give him a spirit OF
gratitude like unto my licking tongue.
FIJI him with patience like unto mine
that awaits his footsteps uncomplain-
ingly for hours; I'LL him with my watch
fulness, my courage and my readiness
to sacrifice comfort or life.
Keep him always young In heart and
crowded with the spirit Of play even
as I. Make him as good q man as am
a dog; make him worthy Of me, his
dog"
E. d. Mccain.
Frederick. Md.
"Child Lover" might better have
chosen the name Dog Halter" AS
parents of young man, my wife ana
/ have found his ownership and care
of a dog q great aid in training our
young son for the responsibilities OF
good citizenship. We live in one OF
Washingtons most restricted residential
zones. where not only the Vice Presi-
dent, but nearly every other family
owns and loves a dog.
Perhaps "Child Lover" has never
heard Of the many dogs that served
as good soldiers and saved lives in two
world wars, or of the st. Bernards
that in 1949 were the first to reach the
survivors Of a major airline crash IN
the Alps. This same breed Of dog Is
credited with more than $500 Alpine
rescues. Surely she must have heard
of the plain mongrelS that comforted
an injured master or led worried par
ents to q lost child. There are no bad
dogs. only bad masters: just as there
are no bad children, only bad parents.
A friend is blind and lives an almost
normal life with the aid OF seeing
Eve dog. Another is hard Of hearing
and a small, well-trained dog enables
her to live alone and be useful citizen
instead Of being cared for by others
Surely such people deserve to live any
place where they can pay the rent. ano
surely anyone who wants or needs pet
for companionship should be allowed
to have it wherever he may live so long
as his pet is controlled and well-trained
Child Lover and Dog Lover.