North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-11-08
Tax ON Dogs.


nsenweahh Of Pennsylvania in General as
sembly met, and it is he ereby enacted by the
authority of the same. That from and after
the passage Of this act, it shall be the duty
of the commissioners of the counties of Mer-
Ger, Clinton and Susquehanna* and they are
hereby required to cause an accur rateireturn
TO be taken annually, by the assessors Of .he
several townships and boroughs within the
SAID county, of all dogs owned or possessed
by ATTY person or persons within their respec-
tive townships or boroughs, particularly
noting the number owned or posse ssed by
each person and kept about any one house
and when the said commissioners shall have
so ascertained the number Of dogs aforesaid,
they shall levy and cause to he collected
annually, from any person or persons own
ing or possessing one dog, twenty-five cents;t
and for every additional dog kept about the
same house, one dollar, at the same time and
in the same manner as the county rates and
levies are collected +; and five per centulu of
the same shall be allowed as collection fees
and it shall be the duty of the county treas
urer TO keep separate accounts of the money
arising from the tax on dogs. ana the said
money shall be and is hereby appropriated as
fund for remuneTating the inhabitants of
the SAID county for any loss they shall sus
tain, after the passage Of this act, by sheep
being destroyed Or injured by dog Or dogs.
SECTION 2. That every dog kept or staying
about any house shall be deemed sufficient
evidence of ownership to authorize the asses
sor to return the person inhabitn, said
house as the owner or possessor of such
dog and every dog not returned shall be
deemed to have no over, and may be lawful
ly killed by any person seeing hin running
at large
SECTION 3. That when any iuhabitant Of
the county aforesaid shall lave any sheep
destroyed or injured by a dog or dDgo, the
applause mentioned in this act are hereby
authorized and required to view and ascer-
tam the amount Of damage sustained by the
owner of such sheep destroyed or injured, as
aforesaid; and when they shall have ascer.
tanned the legality of the claim and the dam.
ages so sus' AIMED, they, or any two of them,
shall certify the same under their hands and
seals, to the commissioners of the said coun-
ty, who shall draw their warrant on the
county treasurer for the amount so certified,
TO be paid out of the fund arising from the
tax on dogs: Provided, That this act shall
not be so construed as to repeal any law now
in lorce providing for the collection of dam
ages done to sheep by dogs, from the owner
or owners thereof: And p. opided further,
That the said appraisers shai not certify sn
appraisement Of damages to the county CON-
mis>iDners f1r payment, as aforesaid, in any
case in which, in their opinion, there is suf-
ficient proof to charge the owner or owners
OF dogs, who are solvent. with the damages
aforesaid, under existing law VS., until suit shall
have been brought, tried, and judgment en-
tered against the plaintiff
SECTION 1. That when any inhabitant of
the county aforesaid shall have any sheen
destroyed or injured by dog or dogs, he
may make complaint to one of the justices of
Of the peace Of his or her township or Dor
ough, who sha thereupon appoint three ap-
praIsers Of said damage, who shall have fu n
power and authority to examine, as Witness
es, any person or persons, who shall appear
before them, respect ing the premises upon
oath or affirmation, to be by them admins
tered and it shall be the further du,y of the
said appraisers, and they are hereby required
TO ascertain whether the owner of the sheen
so destroyed or injured ones, posse sses or
keeps dog or dogs about his or her prsm,s
es, and shall make report Of the fact, together
with the appraisement of damages aforesaid,
to the commissioners of the said county and
II 1t shall appear to the said commissioners
that the owner aforesaid did not make true
return t. the proper assessor, of the said
dog or dogs, the said owner shall not be en-
titled to receive any part of the said dam.
ages.
SECTION 5. That the persons so appointed
appraisers shall severally receive for their
services the sum of one dollar per day, while
engaged in the performance of their duties up-
der this act, which sums shall be added to
and paid with the damages so appraised -
and the said appraisers, after their appoint
ment and before they enter upon the per.
t"rmance of their duties enjoyned by this
act, shall seVerai'y take and subscribe, be-
fore the said justice of the peace, an OATH Of
affirmation that they will faithfully and i'm
partially perform all of their said duties to
the best Of their judgment and ability -
which said certificate shall be Immediately
h'ed 10 tho office of the county commission
ers.
SECTION =. That if any person in the said
county shall permit any dog or dogs to be