“REALLY A WOLF”

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1929, Page 3

“REALLY A WOLF”

ALSATIAN DOG MENACE, SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE’S. VIEWS ENDORSED. WELLINGTON, January 10. The controversy which was started by Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s condemnation of the Alsatian dog was added to today when Mr W. T. Barten, of Trentham, an experienced doy fancier, gave his opinion on the subject. “I have followed the controversy for and against Alsatian dogs,” said Mr Barton, “and I would like strongly to support Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s warning against the danger of introducing tuese dogs into the Dominion. lam a great lover of dogs, and while in England recently I had plenty of evidence as to the savage nature of Alsatian dogs. -The papers in England, while I was there, contained several reports of Alsatian dogs viciously attacking even their owners. In one instance a young lady owner was badly mauled by her Alsatian dog while she was feeding it. and in another case a child was killed.

“While iu England I attended the principal dog shows and several of tlie best-known kennels, and found that tlie consenus of expert opinion was that the Alsatian dog was really a wolf. In fact, experiments were recently conducted in England by mating Alsatian dogs, and the third generation threw back to pure wolf. I had intended purchasing an Alsatian dog, but after what I heard T secured a prize Dane, a dog which stands six feet in height when on his hind legs, and an animal with such a sweet disposition that infants can ride on its back.

“But regarding the Alsatian, I entirely agree with Sir Thomas Mackenzie that it is of such a savage nature that it would be very unwise to admit it into this pastoral country. The Alsatian dog was first used in Germany to protect policemen on lonely beats. The dog followed about twenty yards behind the. policemen, and if anyone came be. tween it would fly at the intruder’s throat. These dogs were really trained wolves. A case was known in England where a burglar foolishly entered a house where there was an Alsatian dog. When the police came on the scene the dog had killed the burglar. “Such a savage animal would be too dangerous to control in a sheep country like New Zealand. T notice the Hon. Mr Smith took Sir Thomas Mackenzie to task for saying that the Alsatian dog was little removed from a wolf, but I can assure you that Sir Thomas is quite in the right, and T entirely agree with him that it would he most unwise to allow unrestricted importations of Alsatians into this country.’’