Alsatian Dogs—and Others

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 99, 21 January 1935, Page 11

Alsatian Dogs—and Others

Sir,—May I in fairness to the Alsatian ask you to allow me space for the following:—ln London a few years ago (since the Great War) a child of seven years of age was pulled down and killed in Cromwell Road by four greyhounds at a shop entrance before human aid could be brought to bear upon the situation. The child had on a fur coat, and it is thought that the smell of the skins excited the dogs, who, being several, tore the child down and killed it. I venture to suggest that the jiublicity so freely given to the Alsatian, whenever one of his kind transgresses, might equally be given, if we must feed our public on cheap sensationalism, to a few such cases as the above, which can be authenticated by inquiry. Only a short while ago a woman was killed in France by a Great Dane, and only last night we are regaled by the fact that a lady’s horse, owing to his refractory behaviour, caused her to sustain serious bodily injuries. Why not advocate the destruction as soon as possible of all highly-bred saddle horses? It would be equally to the point. Again, in one week a short while ago nine dogs were shot up on the freezing works paddocks 'for sheep chasing. Of these the larger number were of terrier or terrier-cross and the rest spaniels. Against this iVe have i» the past three years two cases of sheep worrying by Alsatians in the same district, although (up to a short while ago at any rate) there are more than 40 Alsatians in'the district and around the town. How do these r.umbers compare? I give the bag for cue week alone in other breeds. The figures I beg to suggest would be startling if they could be got for 12 months'. —I am, etc., M. B. GRIFFIN. Gisborne, January 18.