County Wondering About Those Uncounted Dogs

" There are more dogs in Washtenaw County than you might logically think. To be precise, more people have purchased dog licenses for their pets than the official county dog census indicates currently live here. And considering the fact that, in order to purchase a license you must present a valid rabies certifícate - and that puppies under six months oíd are too young to get their vaccinations - there are a lot of unaccounted for canine friends in the area. Which is all right since its National Dog Week. The Washtenaw County treasurer's office, which sells dog licenses, reports that it has sold 15,500 dog licenses this year and expects to hit the 17,000 mark by Dec. 31. This compares with an official dog census count of about 11,540 canines. The treasurer's office adds, however, that its dog registrations are not complete because Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor Township, Dexter Township, Lyndon Township, Northfield Township and Superior Township have not turned in their license tallies. Ypsilanti Township, which processes dog licenses separately from the rest of the county, reports 2,116 licenses sold this year. But don't be misled into thinking that all dog owners - or perhaps even a majority of them - have registered their pets as the law dictates. Humane Society officials indícate that of the 12,000 to 14,000 dogs the society handles each year, about 90 per cent are unregistered. So if you've been keeping track on that adding machine, it makes about 30,000 dogs in the county. As for what kind of dogs seems to be the most popular - Ann Arbor and the county as a whole seem to follow the national trend. Local American Kennel Club (AKC) officials say the most popular breed is . the Germán Shepard - and humane society spokesmen agree, adding people seem to want larger animáis to serve as watch dogs. Other popular local breeds are the St. Bernard, Labrador Retriever, Shetland Sheepdog, categorized by AKC officials as the latest canine status symbol, Golden Retriever, Lhasa Apsos, Afghan Hound and relatively new breed, the Shih j Tzu. Shih Tzu are new, however, only in the sense that they have been recently recognized in America. The breed itself is over 5,000 years old. Nationally the top rated breeds are poodles, Germán Shepherds, Beagles, Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers, St. Bernards, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, Collies and the Pekingese. And while many a child may regard his four-legged, tail-waggin' pal as the best of all possible friends, there are a number of persons in the county who wish National Dog Week would be accompanied by a drive to round up all stray and wild animáis. Each year the county pays several thousand dollars to farmers who have had livestock and property damaged by wild dogs. This year the bilí has been $8,100 with a projected $12,000 spent inl reimbursements by the end of 1972. I Such wild dogs, which are at best al nuisance and at worst can cause serious I damage to other domestic animáis and I children, have caused a number of cities I and townships to consider adopting more I stringent dog control ordinances or enforcing one already in existence. The Washtenaw County Sheriff's 1 partment collects all strays in the outcounty regions while Ann Arbor maintains its own dog patrol. So if you have a dog - or knöw one - or have a friend with a dog he wants to be nice to - remind him that this week is National Dog Week. And remember - it's a dog week for (jogs _ not people - doggone it!