Everyone knows that dog shows are expensive today, but did you know that competing in the rat pits of the 1800s was also considered a luxury?
In 1858, James Rodwell wrote in his book The Rat: It's History and Destructive Character:
"That these dogs are not the properties of the humbler classes, the following will prove most clearly. Jem's owner informs me that it cost him scores and scores of pounds to bring Tiny and Jem to their state of perfection...
Here, then, can we calculate pretty nearly the cost of training him. In public he had killed exactly 5,100 rats, and that leaves about the same number for training. Now 5,100 rats, at prime cost, namely, three shillings per dozen, amounts to £63 15s. Od. But if an amateur purchases rats for the purpose, he has to pay the retail price, which is sixpence each, or six shillings per dozen. In that case the training of Jem would have cost £127 10s.
Now, whether the rats be bought wholesale or retail, pray what man in humble circumstances can afford the expense ? No, the great majority of real rat-match dogs are the properties of persons who can not only pay the cost of training, but back them besides ; and among which persons we may rank, not only publicans, but noblemen and gentlemen, both civil and military, as well as citizens of London and first-class tradesmen in Bond-street."
The value of the English pound has increased by a factor of 77 since this description was originally published in the 1850s, meaning in today's prices the cost of purchasing rats for training would be ₤4856 pounds for the professional (taking advantage of a discount on the price of rats!) and ₤9782 pounds for the amateur.
The equivalent in Canadian dollars? $8504.00 for the professional and over $17,131.00 for the amateur!! And that's just the cost of the rats...
Check out the full text of "The Rat" in the CMTC's Reading Room at http://www.canadamt.com/education/read/index.htm
Submitted by: Amanda Kelly
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