[ London Times ]
This newspaper, most correctly known simply as The Times, began publication in 1785 and continues to this day.
The December 20, 1877 edition of The Times published a letter to the edito from a reader who has grown concerned that printed reports of vicious dogs are causing many people to be excessively fearful of even harmless dogs, including his own Newfoundland:
. . . a public panic has arisen. The quietest of dogs are objects of suspicion. I have a very big Newfoundland, perfectly gentle and good tempered, having an excellent character in the neighbourhood. Now people turn aside, women adding a little scream. Last week as he was bounding along in front of me I heard a scuffle, and found a young lad of 14 brandishing a pole 7 ft. long, and hitting at the dog, howling, too, with all his might. "What's the matter, did he touch you?" Not a bit of it, but the boy was wild from all he had heard about mad dogs and acted accordingly.
Now, Sir, it needs an angel to stand this kind of attack meekly, and yet I do honestly believe that if my noble animal had ended by swallowing this poor cowardly victim of a panic, the public would have said that I had no business to keep such a ferocious brute.
Do, pray, say a word for our dogs.
The letter is signed only "J. H. T."