The Dog Days of April
by Barbara Rimkunas
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, April 24, 2020.
The first dog regulations in Exeter were a bit difficult to understand. In June of 1644, the following was laid down in the town record: “It is agreed that all dogs shall be clog’d and sid lind in ye day and tid up in the night and if aney dogs shall be found trespassing in the lots they that shall find them may showt them or follow them to the hows to which the dog doth belong and charge 5s upon the owner of that dog.” An animal that was clogged was tied to a large piece of wood, which served as an anchor, keeping the animal from straying. Side lining was equally as hobbling, tying the front and hind legs together on one side to keep the dog from running. Those were pretty strict actions – as was the right of someone to shoot a stray dog. Good thing times have changed.
In 1859, the Exeter News-Letter ran the following notice: “Dogs are very numerous in the streets of this village. Some of them, no doubt, are valuable and duly valued by their owners. Some of them are not always good natured, and they occasionally not only fight and bite one another, but sometimes they are disposed to bite men and children who happen to be in their way. On Wednesday of last week, a large dog attacked a child named Emma, five years old, a daughter of Mr. W. Williams, threw her down and bit her face. He was not a rabid dog, and there is no fear of hydrophobia. The dog has been killed, however, and much caution should be used with regard to dogs that are at all inclined to bite.”
Rabies was always a concern, although it was still rare in New Hampshire. Dogs infected with rabies were doomed. If the disease did not kill them, strict regulations required the dog to be put down. People bitten and infected by a rabid dog nearly always died an agonizing death until a treatment was developed in 1885 by Louis Pasteur. But that required 25 painful injections over a period of 18 days. Few wanted to go through all that for a simple dog bite, particularly since the treatment could cause side-effects including paralysis. Since there was a bit of time before the treatment needed to begin, it was considered more prudent to observe the dog for a few days to see if it was rabid. In 1891, the State of New Hampshire passed a regulation to have all dogs registered and licensed with the town clerk. In Exeter, dogs roaming around town were required to be muzzled, and officials weren’t fooling around. “Selectmen Gooch and Fuller, with Policemen Maxwell and Philbrick, started from the Machine Works, and, armed with a rifle and two shot guns, made a thorough canvass of the village. Six dogs were killed, not one of which had either collar or muzzle, and all indisputably at large in violation of the by-laws.”
The new state licensing laws were expensive – it added $2.00 for male dogs and $5.00 for female dogs to the existing dog tax of $1-$2.00 already in effect in Exeter. “The old-fashioned privilege of every citizen to do as he pleased, so characteristic of New Hampshire, has been greatly abridged by the Legislature which has just adjourned,” noted the Exeter News-Letter, as the new regulations went into effect. “We refer to the new dog law.” Over 200 dog owners, however, complied with the law and registered their pets.
Unlicensed dogs continued to be a problem and, when a rabies outbreak in 1913 occurred, the police were again warning owners that unlicensed, unmuzzled dogs running at large would be shot. The State of New Hampshire again took action in 1967. For the first time, dog owners had to provide proof of rabies vaccination to obtain a dog license. Exeter, like many towns, took a hard look at its own dog ordinances. At a public meeting held in June, the News-Letter reported, “While dog barking was a general complaint, what to do about dogs running in packs, biting people, knocking down children and the elderly presented a problem only some sort of ordinance seemed capable of curbing.” It was noted, “It would be inaccurate to say the 65 present in the Town Hall were divided among dog lovers and dog haters. Most present were fond of dogs but felt their owners were irresponsible and didn’t care how much mischief their canines got into by their undisciplined acts.” The leash laws passed. With them came more humane ways of impounding strays. Towns all around New Hampshire held low-cost rabies clinics to obtain the required vaccination certificate. The Junior Women’s Club in Exeter sponsored a clinic at the Court Street Community Center that inoculated 395 dogs and one raccoon.
Leashed dogs can traverse most sidewalks and streets in town. Several years ago, it became evident that some owners weren’t taking care with cleaning up dog waste in public places. Doug Dicey, then director of the Recreation Department, began documenting violations by taking color photos of, well, transgressions. This collection of dog poop photos is now stored in the archives of the Exeter Historical Society. It provided enough evidence to ban dogs from most of the public parks in town. New dog waste disposal cans were installed in town to assist pet owners, but every now and then an inconsiderate type neglects to clean up and a social media flame war engulfs the local internet. Don’t be that person. Try to remember how common it was to track dog poop into the house a few decades ago. Let’s keep the town clean.
Today most dog owners understand the need for control laws. Dogs are registered in Exeter during the month of April and the Town Clerk’s office does their best to make the process smooth and pleasant. In a most amazing display of civic engagement, Exeter’s kindergarteners vote on the tag shape each year. The 2020 acorn-shaped tags were chosen by the 2019 kindergarteners. LeeAnn Simpson, assistant town clerk, wouldn’t reveal what next year’s tags will look like. The kids managed to cast their ballots just before the schools shut down for the coronavirus quarantine this year. Registrants are given the option of entering their dog in the “Top Dog” contest. The winner is drawn by the town select board. If the office were open to the public, it would be possible to view the gallery of entrants. But we all know every fluffy friend is “Top Dog” to their owners.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Photo: Area dogs and their owners line up at the Exeter Community Center on Court Street on July 30, 1967 for their turn at the rabies vaccination clinic sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club. New state laws passed that year required proof of vaccination for dogs registered in New Hampshire.
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, April 24, 2020.
The first dog regulations in Exeter were a bit difficult to understand. In June of 1644, the following was laid down in the town record: “It is agreed that all dogs shall be clog’d and sid lind in ye day and tid up in the night and if aney dogs shall be found trespassing in the lots they that shall find them may showt them or follow them to the hows to which the dog doth belong and charge 5s upon the owner of that dog.” An animal that was clogged was tied to a large piece of wood, which served as an anchor, keeping the animal from straying. Side lining was equally as hobbling, tying the front and hind legs together on one side to keep the dog from running. Those were pretty strict actions – as was the right of someone to shoot a stray dog. Good thing times have changed.
Rabies was always a concern, although it was still rare in New Hampshire. Dogs infected with rabies were doomed. If the disease did not kill them, strict regulations required the dog to be put down. People bitten and infected by a rabid dog nearly always died an agonizing death until a treatment was developed in 1885 by Louis Pasteur. But that required 25 painful injections over a period of 18 days. Few wanted to go through all that for a simple dog bite, particularly since the treatment could cause side-effects including paralysis. Since there was a bit of time before the treatment needed to begin, it was considered more prudent to observe the dog for a few days to see if it was rabid. In 1891, the State of New Hampshire passed a regulation to have all dogs registered and licensed with the town clerk. In Exeter, dogs roaming around town were required to be muzzled, and officials weren’t fooling around. “Selectmen Gooch and Fuller, with Policemen Maxwell and Philbrick, started from the Machine Works, and, armed with a rifle and two shot guns, made a thorough canvass of the village. Six dogs were killed, not one of which had either collar or muzzle, and all indisputably at large in violation of the by-laws.”
The new state licensing laws were expensive – it added $2.00 for male dogs and $5.00 for female dogs to the existing dog tax of $1-$2.00 already in effect in Exeter. “The old-fashioned privilege of every citizen to do as he pleased, so characteristic of New Hampshire, has been greatly abridged by the Legislature which has just adjourned,” noted the Exeter News-Letter, as the new regulations went into effect. “We refer to the new dog law.” Over 200 dog owners, however, complied with the law and registered their pets.
Unlicensed dogs continued to be a problem and, when a rabies outbreak in 1913 occurred, the police were again warning owners that unlicensed, unmuzzled dogs running at large would be shot. The State of New Hampshire again took action in 1967. For the first time, dog owners had to provide proof of rabies vaccination to obtain a dog license. Exeter, like many towns, took a hard look at its own dog ordinances. At a public meeting held in June, the News-Letter reported, “While dog barking was a general complaint, what to do about dogs running in packs, biting people, knocking down children and the elderly presented a problem only some sort of ordinance seemed capable of curbing.” It was noted, “It would be inaccurate to say the 65 present in the Town Hall were divided among dog lovers and dog haters. Most present were fond of dogs but felt their owners were irresponsible and didn’t care how much mischief their canines got into by their undisciplined acts.” The leash laws passed. With them came more humane ways of impounding strays. Towns all around New Hampshire held low-cost rabies clinics to obtain the required vaccination certificate. The Junior Women’s Club in Exeter sponsored a clinic at the Court Street Community Center that inoculated 395 dogs and one raccoon.
Leashed dogs can traverse most sidewalks and streets in town. Several years ago, it became evident that some owners weren’t taking care with cleaning up dog waste in public places. Doug Dicey, then director of the Recreation Department, began documenting violations by taking color photos of, well, transgressions. This collection of dog poop photos is now stored in the archives of the Exeter Historical Society. It provided enough evidence to ban dogs from most of the public parks in town. New dog waste disposal cans were installed in town to assist pet owners, but every now and then an inconsiderate type neglects to clean up and a social media flame war engulfs the local internet. Don’t be that person. Try to remember how common it was to track dog poop into the house a few decades ago. Let’s keep the town clean.
Today most dog owners understand the need for control laws. Dogs are registered in Exeter during the month of April and the Town Clerk’s office does their best to make the process smooth and pleasant. In a most amazing display of civic engagement, Exeter’s kindergarteners vote on the tag shape each year. The 2020 acorn-shaped tags were chosen by the 2019 kindergarteners. LeeAnn Simpson, assistant town clerk, wouldn’t reveal what next year’s tags will look like. The kids managed to cast their ballots just before the schools shut down for the coronavirus quarantine this year. Registrants are given the option of entering their dog in the “Top Dog” contest. The winner is drawn by the town select board. If the office were open to the public, it would be possible to view the gallery of entrants. But we all know every fluffy friend is “Top Dog” to their owners.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Photo: Area dogs and their owners line up at the Exeter Community Center on Court Street on July 30, 1967 for their turn at the rabies vaccination clinic sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club. New state laws passed that year required proof of vaccination for dogs registered in New Hampshire.
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