DOG-STEALING. 



115 



struck at those of a superior class. I will not assert that every dog-dealer, 

 is in league with, and profits by, the lower thieves ; but it is true of a 

 great many of them, and it is the principal and most lucrative part of their 

 trade. They are likewise intimately connected with the dog-fights, and 

 encourage them, for the sake of their trade as dealers. An attempt should 

 be made to bring the matter home to these scoundrels.* 



a Mr. Bishop, of Bond-street, has assured 

 the.' public, that he is able to prove that 

 money has recently been extorted from the 

 owners of dogs, by dog-stealers and their 

 confederates, to the amount of more than a 

 thousand pounds. Surely this calls for the 

 decided interposition of the legislature. A 

 strange case of atrocity and cruelty was 

 related by a gentleman to Mr. Bishop. 

 " A young dog of mine," says he, " was 

 lost in London, and, being aware that, if 

 a noise was made about it, a great price 

 would be asked for it, I gave out that I 

 wanted to purchase one : I was shown my 



own dog. I seized it ; but there were se- 

 veral scoundrels present who professed to 

 belong to it, and threatened to kill the dog 

 if I did not pay for it, I proceeded to de- 

 scribe it as my own, stating that it had 

 bad back or double teeth. Judge of my 

 surprise when, after great difficulty, and 

 the dog crying greatly, its mouth was 

 opened, and all the back teeth had been 

 taken out ! I paid two pounds for it be- 

 fore they would let me take it away ; but, 

 in consequence of the injuries it had re- 

 ceived, it died a few days afterwards." 



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