A DOG'S LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 161, 10 July 1930, Page 14

A DOG'S LIFE.

WAR ON CITY'S "STRAYSi."

FASHIONABLE BREEDS AND OTHERS. STORY OF CITY REGISTER. There's no place in Queen Street for the homeless dog. The day when the fleabitten mongrel could scratch for himself, eke out an existence by rummaging among dustbins by day and huddling in cosy doorways by night has gone. The sources of food supply arc shut off by very securely-fitting lids, the congestion of traffic is a nightmare, and, even if the stray dog escapes being bowled over, he has little chance of evading the vigilance of the city's official dog-catclier. Out in the suburbs the collarless pup may survive for a time, but in the business area he is as rare as the moa. In fact, there is singularly little round. Auckland's shopping centres to betray the fact that the dog population of the city exceeds 3000, but that is their number according to the list of registrations at the City Council office. A perky Pom on a delicate string, a cheeky Schipperke, poking a little nose out of the pocket of a fin' coat or a shopping basket, or a huge Alsatian barking a warning to strangers from the rea r ol an automobile, may be seen, perhaps, hut the dog of doubtful lineage, no, "Execution" at Destructor. While the number of dogs is given as over 3000, it is probably considerably greater than that, for there is always a margin of dogs outside the ken of the city treasurer. There are men constantly on the job rounding up the dog owners who, through mental aberration, or some bent towards economy, neglect to register their pets annually. If a dog is found "out on the loose" he is immediately taken to the destructor, where, after a periol has elapsed sufficient to enable him to be claimed, he is dispatched by a humane process. The time allowed before the "execution" varies according to the value of,the dog, assessed by those accustomed to sizing up the qualities of all manner of breeds. Terriers Most Popular. The City Council keeps a very neat register of all dogs that may be said to be of any social standing. A record is kept of their age, colour, sex and breed, together with the names of the owners, and the registration numbers, which tally with those of the collars that are issued. A glance over the pages of .the register conveys a mine of information. There are fashions in dogs, just as there are fashions in practically everything else. The most persistently popular breed is the terrier in all his subdivisions —the fox, Australian, Scottish, Irish and wire-haired. They are popular because they are smart and trustworthy, are usually good ratters and watchdogs and not great eaters. The beautiful collie of cattle' dog, the popular aud picturesque pet of twenty years ago, is slipping from favour. In its place is rising in popularity the much-debated Alsatian, following a strong vogue in England and France. Some dog lovers will not have a big dog. They may tolerate a cocker spaniel—a good pet for the home and an all-round gun dog—or even the Dachshund of the low-hung chassis, but big retrievers and mastiffs they count out as being much too expensive to feed. The brave old Newfoundland has disappeared, probably for the same reason, and even bulldogs are becoming rare in these days of high living costs. Rare Samoyedes. Probably the rarest of all dogs -in Auckland is the Samoyede, a breed of the snow-sledge dogs - that "mush"; through the snowy washes of Northern Canada, and have been used by Antarctic explorers for haulage work in South Polar regions. On the register one of the breed is described as a "big dog, white and tan." . Just what care and attention can accomplish even in the rearing of dogs is revealed by the records. A dog generally is regarded as; having had "his day. (and every dog does have his day) when he has attained the age of nine years, but many of Auckland's pet 3 have exceeded that limit by a good margin and are still going strong. The long livers are for the most part "Poms," Sydney silkies and other small breeds which have had care and attention lavished upon them by the womenfolk. A white poodle of the French type holds the old age record, having piled on fourteen years. ,