FOR (AND AGAINST) THE ALSATIAN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 28, 2 August 1934, Page 10

FOR (AND AGAINST) THE ALSATIAN

(To the Editor.)

Seven more letters for, and three against, the Alsatian dog, have boen received by "The Post." Wo _ have already given liberal space to this subject, and it is suggested that the enthusiasm and ability with which the pro-Alsatian writers have conducted their ease should lie sufficient to enable them now to combine in marring thoir representations in an' official quarter. The time has come to carry the case to the Government rather than continue Pre3s discussion of the Bill.

One correspondent (Cr. 15. King, who says ho is not a dog owner) points the way when he writos: *'Let the owners form a society (if they have not done so) and fight tooth and nail for their pets." E. W. Jackson, "Fair Play," and C. J. Sponeo give evidence of Alsatian good conduct, and "Fair Play" considers the police fair judges of what dogs should be destroyed. ."New Zealander" points out that a dog reflects his owner, and says that whelmod by the number of good sheepworking dogs than by any other dogs. A. Shepherd states that the number of Alsatians that worry sheep is " overwhelmed by the number of good sheepdogs that have to be destroyed for the same offence"; he guarantees that there is'in Potono "one' Alsatian that cannot bo mado toybit© one man,, woman, spoilt child, or politician in New Zealand.',' Two correspondents refuse to believe an earlier statement that there is a dog judge who will not handle Alsatians. C. Lewis quotes tho. Yorkshire "Evening Post" concerning a-stray Alsatian in Hull docks, ownerless, timid, "not friendly, "but harmless., On tho other hand, "A Lover of Dogs" thinks_prevontion better tlian cure; as a maimed child might bo incurable, he supports the' Bill. "Petulengro" writes: "My wife is now afraid to take o\n- dog" out for fear of attack."

The argument' of "Common Sense" is to the effect that while a bad little dog can be bad, a bad big dog may mean a tragedy; the Alsatian is -"six to seven feet high, on its hind legs," is "as heavy as a man," and is a match for a leopard. ■ : . - ]