pets

SOMEONE PLEASE NAB THE SPITTERS AND DOGS

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

More thumbnail portraits of the mucky side of 1906 Santa Rosa, like the problem of streets knee-deep in mud.

VERY FILTHY HABIT
Complaints of Expectoration on Show Windows are Again Heard

Any citizen who chances to observe some dirty individual or individuals, who take apparent delight in expectorating on the show windows of Fourth street stores, will immediately apprehend them and turn the culprits over to the police officers, by so doing they will confer a great favor on several merchants who have been annoyed in this way lately. Another complaint was heard on Wednesday. The police officers are on the lookout and will endeavor to put a stop to the filthy habit. It is also said that attempts have been made to scratch show windows with diamonds. Severe punishment should be meted out to offenders, who have nothing better to do than such mischief. In more than one instance tobacco juice has been squirted on the glass.

– Press Democrat, February 15, 1906

Overrun with Vagrant Dogs

The City of Santa Rosa is becoming overrun with vagrant dogs, and it is high time the city authorities are doing something to abate this evil. Since the last poundmaster was relieved of his position something like a year ago, there has been no effort to curb the dogs running loose in the streets, and the consequence is that the city has becom overrun with the vagrant canines.

These dog scratch up lawns, make it almost impossible in some localities to start new lawns owing to the proclivities of the canines to dig holes in the lawns. These dogs also become a nuisance in the business districts where merchants are compelled to place goods in front of their establishments for display. It would seem good judgement to appoint a poundmaster for the city.

– Santa Rosa Republican, March 22, 1906

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WHAT IS A PET?

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Add this to the questions I’d love to ask a 1905 Santa Rosan: “What is a pet?” As a followup, I’d ask, “what do you consider to be animal cruelty?”

There are few mentions of pets in the 1905 newspapers. No pets were sold through classifieds, no notices appealed for help finding missing animals, no merchants advertised sales on feed. Except for the little Newman’s Drug Store ads for “Dent’s Dog Remedies,” you’d hardly know that anyone here had domestic pets at all.

What we can glimpse about pets in that era comes from news stories; we learn that some city residents kept raccoons because one got loose the year before on Cherry Street and a frightened neighbor thought there was a burglar on the roof, and another escapee was shot out of a tree by a policeman. Like today, people were tender-hearted; witness the couple on Fourth Street who tried to nurse back to health a paralyzed chicken.

Also like today, dogs were regarded with special affection. In all the reportage of the Battle of Sebastopol Avenue, the only true “human interest” story described Bum, a dog that became the mascot of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway, catching rides back and forth as workers competed for his/her attention. But at the same time, dog poisoning was one of the most common crimes of the day. Or was it a crime in 1905? I recall no mention that police ever investigated, much less nabbed anyone for the killings.

But 1905 attitudes towards cats were considerably less sympathetic, judging from the final item below. At first I thought it must be a hoax, given both the unspeakable cruelty and the jokey writing style; the unlikely name of the perpetrator seemed like another clue. “John June?” Sure enough, however, a man by that name is listed in the 1905 Cloverdale directory, employed in “restaurant and livery.” Warning, cat-lovers: go read something else instead. Seriously.

“BUM” THE PRIDE OF THE RAILROAD MEN

“Bum” is the mascot of the electric railroad men and he is well known all over the system between this city and Petaluma. Bum is a dog picked up by one of the train men and duly installed as the canine pet of the road. He travels first on one car then on another, passenger or freight, and does not care what is is as long it is a ride. There are [sic] some good natured rivalry among the men as to which can lay claim to being “Bum’s” favorite, but so far doggie has evinced a rule to have all friends and no favorites. The men have taken up a subscription among themselves and have raised a fund sufficient to buy “Bum” a collar that will be one of the finest in dogdom. Director Frank Brush made “Bum’s” acquaintance the other day and incidentally learned the bit of history connected with the electric’s dog.

– Press Democrat, January 12, 1905
Long Time Without Food

Mr. and Mrs. S. Enders have a chicken at their home on Upper Fourth street which laid on its back, wedged between a fence and woodshed for an entire week, without food or water, and still lives. The night the chicken disappeared the family heard a noise and the barking of the dog, but could not locate the fowl. After a lapse of a week little Ralph Heim discovered the chicken laying with its feet pointed to heaven, and it was rescued. Special attention is being given the chicken at present, to nourish it back to full vigor and health. This is probably the longest instance on record of a fowl going without food and water and surviving. The animal’s limbs are apparently paralyzed.

– Santa Rosa Republican, November 6, 1905
CAT SKINS AND ELECTRICITY
John June a Cloverdale Scientist Slaughters Citrus City Felines

Like the Geyserville dogs the Cloverdale cats are said to be mysteriously disappearing. The night warblings of backyard felines are becoming things of other eves and the bold mouse is pleasuring without fear.

The Citrus City cats are being sacrificed in the cause of science. John June, the owner of a restaurant, a livery stable, a hotel and a teething baby, is said to have been catching the Cloverdale monsters, skinning them while alive for the purpose of securing and applying the electricity in the fur to the jaw of his sick infant. Several physicians in turn called to treat the child but it is said their directions were not followed by the man with the monthly name and more cats failed to return to their home kitchens at dawn.

Finally Mrs. Prescott, representing the Humane Society, investigated the cat pelts lying around the June premises and swore out a warrant against the stable-keeping feline-electro scientist on the ground that he was committing a misdemeanor in not securing medical attendance for his sick child. June concluded to drop the study of electro science and skinning cats and sent for a physician to treat the infant.

– Santa Rosa Republican, October 9, 1905

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SHOOTING DOWN THE PETS

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Pet stuck up a tree? Don’t ask your friendly neighborhood cop for help — unless you want your little furry friend brought down with a bullet.

To be fair about it, raccoons aren’t exactly pets like Fido and Fluffy. They’re aggressive scavengers and famous for their taste for chickens, which were kept at the time by many Santa Rosa households for eggs and meat. (Disease, however, wasn’t an issue; there was no recorded case of raccoon rabies in California until 1936.) More’s the question why Officer Hankel showed such restraint when attacked by the dog that the owner couldn’t control.

Took Fancy to Policeman

A pet raccoon belonging to ex-Marshal Charles Holmes, kept at the home of his mother, Mrs. Annie M. Holmes, got loose Thursday and created considerable excitement. Mrs. Holmes appealed to the police, and Officer Hankel responded. All attempts to capture the animal were unavailing so the officer shot it.

It was a fine shot but only wounded the pet which dropped to the ground and retreated under the house for safety. Hankel then suggested that Mrs. Holmes release the bulldog to bring the prey from cover. She released the dog but the canine saw more sport in Hankel and drove him into the house where he was kept a prisoner until Mrs. Holmes could capture and chain the dog up again.

– Press Democrat, June 17, 1905

PET COON RETURNS MINUS ONE LEG

The pet ‘coon of Mrs. A. M. Holmes has been recaptured and the honor of Officer Hankel is vindicated. The animal escaped a couple of weeks ago and after all efforts to secure it had failed the officer was summoned. Failing in his efforts to capture the animal he took a shot at the creature which fell from its hiding place in the tree and took refuge under the house.

Hankel was confident he hit the animal but there are always those who feel sceptical of such stories. The ‘coon, however, returned Wednesday minus a front leg which was where the officer’s bullet had taken effect. The wound is healing and the animal will go through life minus one leg.

– Press Democrat, June 29, 1905

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