DOGS FACED WITH FAMINE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE" SPECTATOR."] Sin,—The Spectator has ever shown a generous interest in dogs. and it seems natural to address to you some "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontent*" among dog-owners, in the hops that a way may yet be found to relieve the position which is now acute. The Times of May 4th states that "many dogs mny have to be sacrificed." Why did not the Government issue a general appeal to reduce the number of dogs, at the seine time offering
facilities for their humane and free destruction, previous to January 1st, when licences were issued authorizing people "to keep one dog until the 31st of December next following" ? The shops are sold out of dog-biscuits and hound-meal, priced at 7d. per pound. (The temptation is obvious to use the subsidized loaf at 21(1. per pound.) An article in the Daily Mail tells of a " war-dog " fed on rice and beans—quite illegal this, of course ! Others write glibly of " waste portions of food" and "potato-peelings." In a patriotic household the dog would come off badly. Provisional lists have appeared of dogs to be spared. While these include watchdogs, who are often neglected and kept in chained-up loneliness, also sporting dogs, who minister to the pleasures of the few, the member-of-the-family dog is not named. Yet surely this is the dog to whom the Briton has "given his heart to tear." Some of these Learts belong to sailors and soldiers now absent. Their dogs, at any rate, must not be starved or killed. The Ministry of Food have been lavish of human Food Economy literature. Could not they make known any reliable substitutes now available for feeding dogs and publish recipes ? If extermination is a real necessity, at least let us be told so frankly.—I am, Sir, itc., F. E. Mums.
Previous page
