114 DOG-STEALING. 



be in quite as great security, for the dog depends as much upon his ear 

 and sense of smell as upon his eye, and would equally detect a stranger's 

 presence if he were deprived of sight." 



In the Zoological Gardens, an old blind dog used to be placed at the 

 door of the dissecting-house. Few had any business there, and every one 

 of them he, after a while, used to recognise and welcome full ten yards off, 

 by wagging his tail ; at the same distance, he would begin to growl at a 

 stranger unless accompanied by a friend. From the author's long habit of 

 noticing him, he used to recognise his step before it would seem possible 

 for its sound to be heard. He followed him with his sightless eyes in what- 

 ever direction he moved, and was not satisfied until he had patted and 

 fondled him. 



DOG -PITS. 



Of the demoniacal use of the dog in infighting-pits, and the atrocities 

 that were committed there, I will not now speak. These places were fre- 

 quented by few others than the lowest of the low. Cruelties were there 

 inflicted that seemed to be a libel on human nature ; and such was the bane- 

 ful influence of the scene, that it appeared to be scarcely possible for any 

 one to enter these pits without experiencing a greater or less degree of 

 moral degradation. 



The public dog-pits have now been put down ; but the system of dog- 

 fighting, with most of its attendant atrocities, still continues. There are 

 many more low public-houses than there used to be pits, that have roomy 

 places behind, and out of sight, where there are regular meetings for this 

 purpose. Those among the neighbours who cannot fail of being annoyed 

 and disgusted by the frequent uproar, might give a clue to these dens of 

 infamy ; and the depriving of a few of the landlords of their licence would 

 go a great way towards the effectual suppression of the practice. 



Would it be thought possible that certain of our young aristocracy keep 

 fighting-dogs at the repositories of various dealers in the outskirts of the 

 metropolis ; and that these animals remain there, as it were, at livery, the 

 owners coming at their pleasure, and making and devising what matches 

 they think proper ? 



However disgraceful it may be, it is actually the fact. Here is a field 

 for " the suppression of cruelty !" 



DOG-STEALING. 



The practice of stealing dogs is both directly and indirectly connected 

 with a great deal of cruelty. There are more than twenty miscreants who 

 are well known to subsist by picking up dogs in the street. There are 

 generally two of them together with aprons rolled round their waists. The 

 dog is caught up at the corner of one of the streets, concealed in a moment 

 in the apron, and the thieves are far away before the owner suspects 

 the loss. These dogs, that have been used to every kind of luxury, are 

 crowded into dark and filthy cellars, where they become infected by va- 

 rious diseases. The young ones have distemper, and the old ones mange, 

 and all become filled with vermin. There they remain until a sufficient 

 reward is offered for their recovery, or they are sent far into the country, or 

 shipped for France or some other foreign market. Little or nothing is 

 done by punishing the inferior rogues in this traffic. The blow must be 



