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149
Committee, named after the Act, were in communication with the
Privy Council (Agricultural Department) in the summer, urging
the necessity of an Order being issued for the muzzling of dogs,
which order they held, should be made applicable to the whole
kingdom. The Privy Council, however, were not disposed to
make such an Order, but were willing to make Orders to be
applicable to those districts where hydrophobia was prevalent.
An order was issued applicable to the County of London and such
districts or parts of districts as are within the Metropolitan Police
District. It came into force on the 31st July, and was to
continue until the end of the year, at which time, however, another
Order was issued without any limit as to duration. Under the
terms of these Orders, the local authority of each of the districts,
are directed to cause all dogs affected with or suspected of rabies,
or having been bitten by a dog affected with or suspected of rabies,
within their district, to be forthwith slaughtered. No dog is
allowed to be in any public place "unless such dog is muzzled
with a muzzle so constructed as to render it impossible for such
dog, while wearing the same, to bite any person or animal, but not
so a.s to prevent such dog from breathing freely or lapping water.'
The Order does not apply to packs of hounds, harriers or beagles,
or greyhounds, or other sporting dogs, while being used for
sporting purposes, or to any dogs while being used for the capture
or destruction of vermin, and in charge of competent persons.
The local authority of each of the districts (e.g., the County
Council in and for London,the City excepted) were to cause all stray
dogs, and all dogs not muzzled in accordance with the provisions of
the Order, to be seized, and if the dog were not affected with, or
suspected of, rabies, it was to be detained in some proper place,
and supplied with requisite food and water during its detention.
The expenses incurred in respect of any arrested dog, are recoverable
summarily from the person having charge of the dog or from
its owner.
Naturally the "proper place" for detention of wandering
dogs is a Home. At one such Home, at Battersea, 24,123 dogs
were received in 1889, an increase of 8802, as compared with the