THE MUZZLING ORDER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The muzzling order for dogs is the most cruel and tyrannical edict ever issued; it is also useless, because it inflicts a vast amount of suffering on the healthy animal, but leaves the unhealthy one free, for, in all my long experience, I never heard of a rabid dog being muzzled. In spite of all precautions, isolated cases of rabies will crop up. The true remedy to mitigate the evil is, in my opinion, to inflict a heavy fine on any dog-owner who allows a rabid or diseased animal to leave his premises ; for no observant person can be ignorant for days before the development of the dangerous stage, that something is wrong with the animal demanding precaution.
This end could be easily attained by issuing licences in the same way as bankers' cheques, the counterfoil being retained at the office of issue, a metal label, with the number, &c., -corresponding with the licence, to be given to the applicant, to be attached (compulsorily) to the dog's collar. By this means the owner could be traced and held responsible. The owner of a glandered horse is fined for allowing it to be on a public thoroughfare ; why not apply the same principle to dogs ?
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