OUR FOUR-FOOTED COMPANIONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I venture to appeal to you as a well-known champion and lover of our canine associates and friends, for help in protecting
a large class of them. The "Northern Heights," especially High- gate and Muswell Hill, are peopled by so numerous a tribe of giant dogs, that the lives of their smaller brethren are in constant jeopardy whenever they are allowed to appear in the public roads ; and it seems, therefore, but reasonable to demand that those exceptionally large dogs shall not be sent abroad without muzzles. Being myself the fortunate possessor of a black-and-tan terrier, who numbers thirteen tricks, both useful and elegant, among his accomplishments, I address myself securely to your sympathy for the fact that he nearly lost his life yesterday, while accidentally outside our gate, alone, for barely one minute, during which a monster dog swooped down upon our poor terrier, and by a severe bite seriously injured his lungs. Nor would the life of our favourite have been spared, but for the whip of his aggressor's master.
Urged by neighbours who are like sufferers with myself, I am emboldened to entreat you to make the case public, and I only wish I had skill enough to paint the representations which have been made to me, and which are but too fully realised by myself, of the agonies perpetually endured by the owners of small dogs in looking before, behind, to the right hand, and to the left, as they walk, in order promptly enough to snatch up their four-footed companions from the dread approach of some powerful and merci- less foe, who may in an instant crush out the life of one whose gifts may be "worthy to mortify the pride of man's superior breed."—I am, Sir, &c.,
2 Southwood Place, Highgate, N., London. LUCY FIELD.
[We fear the only remedy is steadily to sue the owners of the large dogs for damages for all the mischief the big dogs do. A few public cases would make their masters and mistresses very careful to restrain them.—En. Spectator.]
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