Dog Tagging in Muskogee
City founders felt there was a problem with an over population of wild animals at the time Muskogee became incorporated in 1898. They enacted the city's first ordinance to regain control with the passage of Ordinance No. 15.
This ordinance, for the first time, required the tagging of dogs. Tagging cost the owner a dollar a year. Yet, if one of the town's police officers picked up a pet, the fine was five dollars. Just like today's tags, a hundred years ago tags contained the year and a number. The ordinance specified that the tag be made of tin or copper. Furthermore, it specified that the tag be affixed to a leather collar. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
If an officer found a dog without a tag, the officer was empowered to "arrest" and impound the animal. This happens today, but the public does not think of the animal as being arrested.
The ordinance of July 5, 1898, exempted a trained dog from the ordinance's requirement of being tagged. This ordinance allowed untagged dogs if they remained beside their masters. Such an untagged animal was safe from arrest on Muskogee's streets. A later ordinance removed this exception.
Dog lovers formed the Muskogee Kennel Club before 1906. Showing dogs earned the owner bragging rights. Just before the end of the year, Edward L. Halsell represented the club in a contest in Arkansas. His dog, named "Kentucky Lead," won first place. A banner, fox horn and $50 silver cup were the prizes he brought home. Knowledgeable sportsmen men considered Kentucky Lead to be the fastest red fox dog in America.
Slightly over a year later, dogs were again over running Muskogee. Finally, an alderman called for the city's police department to have four men use their revolvers on any untagged dog in the city limits. As barbaric as this solution seems today, it was the common answer to the problem of over population in that day.
In rural areas of the county, farmers periodically conducted hunts to reduce the number of wild dogs. These hunts were an effort to reduce losses from wild dogs attacking their livestock. Bert Pitts of McClain Township reported in 1909 that wild dogs were more like wolves or coyotes, but in fact descended from "two female tramp dogs" that grew to a pack of eight animals. Bert's specific complaint was that the dogs were killing four or five hogs a night. "The farmers there were up in arms," Bert reported.
By the end of 1909, Muskogee County reported more registered dogs than any other county in the state according to one report. This reflected upon the efforts put into animal registration. The number of dogs that year, by the way, was 5,156.
At the same time, the Muskogee Kennel Club reorganized. The following dog lovers urged others to join them. The organizers included Mrs. J. Hutchings White, Galen Nichols, J. L. Allen, W. R. Eaton, J. J. Brotherton and Ed Bothwell.
Today, the staff of the city's Animal Control Unit work hard in reuniting owners with lost pets. When an animal is "arrested," it is guaranteed safe housing at the city's animal shelter.
This ordinance, for the first time, required the tagging of dogs. Tagging cost the owner a dollar a year. Yet, if one of the town's police officers picked up a pet, the fine was five dollars. Just like today's tags, a hundred years ago tags contained the year and a number. The ordinance specified that the tag be made of tin or copper. Furthermore, it specified that the tag be affixed to a leather collar. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
If an officer found a dog without a tag, the officer was empowered to "arrest" and impound the animal. This happens today, but the public does not think of the animal as being arrested.
The ordinance of July 5, 1898, exempted a trained dog from the ordinance's requirement of being tagged. This ordinance allowed untagged dogs if they remained beside their masters. Such an untagged animal was safe from arrest on Muskogee's streets. A later ordinance removed this exception.
Dog lovers formed the Muskogee Kennel Club before 1906. Showing dogs earned the owner bragging rights. Just before the end of the year, Edward L. Halsell represented the club in a contest in Arkansas. His dog, named "Kentucky Lead," won first place. A banner, fox horn and $50 silver cup were the prizes he brought home. Knowledgeable sportsmen men considered Kentucky Lead to be the fastest red fox dog in America.
Slightly over a year later, dogs were again over running Muskogee. Finally, an alderman called for the city's police department to have four men use their revolvers on any untagged dog in the city limits. As barbaric as this solution seems today, it was the common answer to the problem of over population in that day.
In rural areas of the county, farmers periodically conducted hunts to reduce the number of wild dogs. These hunts were an effort to reduce losses from wild dogs attacking their livestock. Bert Pitts of McClain Township reported in 1909 that wild dogs were more like wolves or coyotes, but in fact descended from "two female tramp dogs" that grew to a pack of eight animals. Bert's specific complaint was that the dogs were killing four or five hogs a night. "The farmers there were up in arms," Bert reported.
By the end of 1909, Muskogee County reported more registered dogs than any other county in the state according to one report. This reflected upon the efforts put into animal registration. The number of dogs that year, by the way, was 5,156.
At the same time, the Muskogee Kennel Club reorganized. The following dog lovers urged others to join them. The organizers included Mrs. J. Hutchings White, Galen Nichols, J. L. Allen, W. R. Eaton, J. J. Brotherton and Ed Bothwell.
Today, the staff of the city's Animal Control Unit work hard in reuniting owners with lost pets. When an animal is "arrested," it is guaranteed safe housing at the city's animal shelter.
Labels: Bert Pitts, Dog tags, Ed Bothwell, Edward L. Halsell, Galen Nichols, J. J. Brotherton, J. L. Allen, Mrs. J. Hutchings White, Muskogee Kennel Club, W. R. Eaton
posted by Wally Waits at
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