Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-08-25
From the Maryland Farnner.

From the Maryland Farmer.
The Depredations Of Dogs Upon Sheep
/ Many Of the Western States annoyed
and injured by the ravages Of the worth
less dogs allowed to live and increase with
in their borders, have passed stringen,
laws in order to restrain this growing evil.
The laws themselves, though it is impos-
sible to make them perfect enough to be
wholly effectual, yet would be partially 60
if some means were provided for their
more vigorous enforcement. As they
stand. they are. as fur as any general and
permanent good is concerned, q dead let
ter upon the statute book in the very
portions Of the States most needing their
protection. A bill recently introduced in
the Legislature of Illinois, gives the sail
ent points of the regulations usually D.
doped. 1t enacts that:
Every owner Of dog shall, on or be-
fore the 1st Of September, procure from
the Town Clerk, and cause to be worn, q
collar for each dog he shall own; the
clerk to keep record and description Of
all dogs, for which collars are obtained,
with the names of their owners. For
each dog registered, he is to be paid fee
Of one dollar. Any dog not wearing q
collar and registered is to be considered
as abandoned, and it shall be lawful for
any person to slay such animal as though
be we're wild The assessors shall pro.
cure lists Of all registered dogs. and shall
also make return Of all abandoned dogs,
with the names of the persons who harbol
them. A tax of one dollar shall be paid
for each registered male, and tax Of two
dollars for each registered female dog.
Owners of dogs are made liable for all in.
Ijuries the latter may infict. Any person
may kill dog which makes sudden as
sault upon him outside Of the enclosure O
its owner or keeper. and any person may
kill dog found out of the immediate con
troll of its keeper. sworrying. wounding o.
killing any domestic animal"
We are not at present informed whether
the above bill is now alaw or not. but VI
hope the members Of the Illinois Legisla
ture were sensible enough to pass eithe
this or some proper statute Of the kind.
There was at one time statute simila
to the above in Iowa. Probably othe
Western and Northern States have passet
laws of the same nature for the same pur
pose. In Maryland We have no genera
laws of the kind, except two sections 0
the code, which as they are short and ",
purpose to make some comment on them,
we give:
Sec l. IF any dog shall be detected
Lin killing or ipjuring sheep, and proc
thereof shall be made by the oath Of the
owner Of said sheep. or any other person
a competent witness before q Justics oI
the Peace. the owner of said dog upon
complaint to him made and information oi
such proof. shall proceed forthwith to kill
said dog. and on his refusal or neglect "a
do so, the owner Of said sheep may kill
said dog afterwards found running q
large. or may apply to constable who.
upon the production Of the aforesaid af6-
davit, shall proceed to the house of The
owner Of said dog. and kill said dog there
or wherever else found. !"
SEQ. g., IF such dog shall imoediately
upon such complaint. and information be
killed by his owner. the owner. Of the sheep
shall not have cause of action against the
owner Of said dog, but upon his. refusal "a
kill said dog. the owner Of the sheep may
recover double the value Of the sheep kill
ed with costs, in the manner prescribed
for the recovery Of debts .s
There are also local statutes 10 che code
applicable to Hartford and Cecil counties,
and to some Of the county towns other
than the sections cited but the largest
and wealthiest portion Of our State has Il
rely entirely. whatever the valuo Of the
sheep may be. upon the statute quoted
for protection against depredations upor
their sheepfold by dogs allowed to roam
through the ncighborhood uDrestrained
This should be no longer permitted. I
- -
we are to have any law at an upon th.
subject, it should at least be one that i
capable Of being put into practice Will
some hope Of effect. The present enact
ment is the merest farce; We doubt # 40
ton was ever taken under it's provision
We feel certain that no debt for injury i
sheep has ever been satisfied. II there j
any law in our code, with the possible ex
ception. for which there is other authori
! ty, Of the forbidding man to marry hi
grand mother, less likely to be Of use. VI
have the 87th article Of the Mary LIANT
Code Of General Laws with reference q
'sheep." which would much more clearl..
set forth its practical bearing if it wer
headed 80 law for the. protection Of dogs
and for more eifeotually spreading ia-wil
hotv..r na;chhors and naiohhoP III fhA.