A DOG FIEND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue XII, 24 March 1894, Page 270

A DOG FIEND.

In ‘ The Story of My Dogs from Year to Year, in • The Dog Owners’ Annnal for 1894,’ Dr. Gordon Stables tells a tale of the ferocity developed by a young mastiff through teasing. He says :—‘ About ten years ago X took down with me to Ramsgate a month-old puppy, to piesent to a friend of mine, the widow of an army officer. He was a champion-bred mastiff puppy and brindled. Shortly after this the lady went to reside in Boulogne, and the dog in time grew up into a splendid fellow. But woe is me ! the school children had teased him till he had become a pei ft ct savage, permitting no one to touch him except his mistress and her maid. She was fined time after time, and finally had an order to either destroy or banish him from the country. She chose the latter alternative, and begged me to accept the dog. • Now, I flatter myself I can tame almost any dog, but Captain was undoubtedly the devil in form canine. He was placed in a barred cell in the forepart of the ship, and started for London Docks. I wrote my friend Mr George Krehl, of the Stock Keeper, asking him to send down a man to meet the dog, one who would not fear anything. Mr Krehl sent down a man who was used to handling tigers, and from the letter I received from him a day or two after, the scene at the docks must have been lively. The man never hesitated, -but went straight to the cage, and threw the door open. Meanwhile the crew took to the rigging, and the skipper shut himself up in bis state room. As well as he could the man muzzled the dog with a piece of rope, and after a fearful struggle he was got into a cab and started for Paddington. All the way thither it was a man and dog fight, and even the cushions of the fly were rent in ribbons. At Paddington the officials had a scare they will never forget, and the platform was cleared. He was finally chained up in the luggage compartment of an ordinary carriage. * I met the dog at Twyfcrd, but he was now furious, and to remove him I found was impossible. As the train could not be delayed I gave orders that he should be taken on to Reading and shot in the carriage. Instead of doing so, ho vever, they took the people out of the carriage and sent it back to Twyford.dog and all. They managed to unstrap him here by placing a man at each side of the carriage—port and starboard. While the dog Hew at one the other tried to undo the chain, and finally one man succeeded. Then the terrier came sulkily up to my place. Hardly daring to speak to the dog, I quietly took the chain and led him away down the gaideu and orchard to a large Boulton and Paul cage kennel. I walked in first, the terrier followed. I sprang to the door, barely in time. I had only half closed the door, the terrier did the rest, spitting great gobs of froth at me in his fury. ‘ For three days he touched nothing, and his state could only be described as one of furious madness, not rabies, the madness of a lunatic. Then in mercy I had the poor fellow shot.’