DRAUGHT DOGS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXV, Issue 979, 21 June 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

DRAUGHT DOGS.

Britißh travellers in Belgium and in some parts of Germany are often not a little surprised on seeing dogs drawing carts of no inconsiderable size. The rough stone-wayß over which the dogs have, for the most part to draw their burthen, have been thought by many to cause torture to feet not adapted to such work. But the interesting report of Mr. Nicholas Smith, the American Consul at Liege, should go far to dispel the idea of ciuelty in the employment of dogs as draught animals. Mr. Smith says : " From time immemorial this heredi* tary loafer has been given over to pleasure ; but, like certain other of the privileged classes in this revolving world of ours, he has had his day-at least, in Belgium." Liege, which is a wealthy and industrial city, employing aB many horses as any other town of its size in Europe, shows at least two dogs in harneßß on its streets for every horse that can be seen. Dogs are employed by market-gardeners, butchers, milkmen, bakers, grocers, porters, and expressmen. The dog's step is so much quicker than that of the horse that he will in an hour cover twice the distance and carry with him a greater burden in proportion to his size. The usual draugh* of an ordinary dog is six hundred pounds, though a msstiQ has often to draw as much again. Dogs are also used in treadmills for moving light machinery. Mr, Smith relates that a gentleman in Liege, after losing the use of his legs, had a perambulator so constructed that a Danish hound which had been his companion for years, could be hitched and almost concealed between the wheels, and now appears as regularly in his old haunts on the boulevards as any of his friends. The dog is described as being not only as happy as when he loitered at his master's heels, but manifestly proud of the service he renders him. Dogs are kept like horses at livery in Belgium in' considerable numbers, at a ccst of from twopence to threepence a day, horseflesh and black bread forming the staple of their food. Experiments in breeding, like those which have bi'en so successful in the improvement of horseß, are now being made with dogs to produce a stylo of animal especially fitted for harness. It is sought to graft the splendid chest and breathing capacity of the bulldog upon the stalwart stock of the mastiQ, which has been found too long in the back and logs. There are markets in Belgium where dogs are bought and sold (or draught purposes as horses are at Tattersall's, and it is not unusual for a compactly-built and well-broken dog to bring four or five pounds. It is no cruelty to the dog to give him ÜBeful occupation, and, in fact, the testimony is that ho really likes it.