THE BROWN DOG.

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1911, Page 2

THE BROWN DOG.

BATTERSEA FARCE ENDED. ANTI-VIVISECTION PROTEST. The Battersea Borough Council recently ordered the destruction of the "Brown Dog," the anti-vivisection statue, regarding which there have been several riotous -scenes and some litigation. The history of the celebrated "Brown Dog" of Battersea stretches ever several years, and its main features may be gathered from the following outline of the proceedings up to January, 1908, published at that time in the London "Times," since there has been a series of further riots and litigation:—. "All the turmoil and all the alarms which have been giving Battersea recent notoriety are the consequence of a gift. In 1904 or 1905 the International Anti-Vivisection Society saw fit to construct a memorial to a dead dog. The memorial took the form of a fountain embedded in a circular mass of granite, on -which, -was an image of the dog. An inscription said that the dog had been 'done to death' by vivisection, and particular medical schools were specified as having the chief part of the deed. The memorial cost about £130. It was offered as a free gift to several public bodies; but a libel action and other proceedings were threatened against whoever set it up. The Battersea Borough Council accepted the offer by a majority, but their acceptance was not whole-heart-ed. Nearly a year elapsed before the council dedicated the memorial to the public. When the council met on September 11, 1906, an agreement with the international Anti-Vivisection Society was sealed, the society un dertaking to indemnify the local authority against costs and damages in the event of civil proceedings, and earnest money to the amount of £300 was deposited. The memorial was unveiled a few days afterwards in the lecreation ground of the Latchmere Estate, near Battersea Park Road. From the first the memorial has had to be specially protected. Electric communication was established between it and the quarters assigned to the watchmen, and the Borough Council has had to incur continuous expense. The recent alarms and disorders attributed to medical students have had a very serious effect on the policing of the district. On several occasions every available man has, been called out to guard the memorial. In addition, two men are constantly kept by the fountain day and night, at a cost which .the Commissioner of Police estimates at,£7oo per annum, and this amount he has asked i* Battersea is prepared to pay. Local anti-Vivisectionists have taken alarm, and are organising meetings of protest. Among the more responsible Progressive members of the Borough Council there is a feeling that the present condition of affairs is intolerable, and that at least the offensive inscription ought to be erased. On the other hand.the -anti vivisectionists are for further protection, though of a less costly nature. They suggest that the entire memorial should be enclosed j with a stout iron cage, provided with doors through which the children who' play in. the recreation ground may getj water from the fountain " ,