Note: Cromwell was bred by Mr. Nash. It was Cromwell’s dam Daisy who was bought at the Battersea dog pound. The following is snipped from The Fanciers’ Journal, November 30, 1889 issue which features Cromwell on the cover:
Dog Catchers and Pounds: 1890 – 1892
Is it terrible of me to suspect that the method of “putting to sleep” described was not terribly humane for the dogs experiencing it? I mean, I seem to have missed the part where it actually says how they die?
I’m also skeptical that the phrase “worthless curs” goes well with actual kindness toward the dogs
I was aware of the brutal, broad daylight theft of dogs by dog thieves paid by the city pound, which led to the ASPCA getting the contract.
But it is quite impressive that a dog could be rescued from a pound and go on to be the dam of a dog who achieved some distinction in the dog fancy. I mean, that it was allowed to happen. The fancy was less delicate, then?
I tend to agree it likely wasn’t very humane but by comparison, most pounds were killing their dogs cruelly and violently so the idea of “putting to sleep” sounded heaps better.
When the stud books in England and America were created, dogs without known pedigrees were allowed to be registered. This was by necessity since a pedigree requirement would have restricted the number of registrants too greatly.