The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-30
A Capital Dog Law Recently PASSES
I'm Maryland.
An act for the taxation of Dogs the state OF Ma
"a" ryIond hnnroyed April ]. 1874

ran nc, for the taxation of Dogs the state of Ma
an a'i ry Via Approved April l, 1874
Section /. Be it enacted by the General
Assemble of Maryland, That the boards OIL
county commissioners the several countles
of this Stale are hereby empowered ana al.
rected to provide for The annual taxation Oh
alI dogs therein at rate of not less than one
dollar for each dog and two dollars Tor eacu
bitch: Provided, That the tax III lalp1'
county and Hartford county shall be one uol'
lar on either dogs or bitches.
Sec. 9. And be 1t enacted. Illat tDe -
ty commissioners of the respective coun.,es
OF the State shall, and they, are heieus
directed to divide their counties ll!o III .,
stabulary districts in accoroance VIZ. W. NV
number of constables in cach OF saic 1oun
ties. and shall make it the duty ol sa'u Iii
stables in each of said districts 10 ann!an5
enumerate and assess, at rate Piesoii "l ~
NV s,;d boards of county commissioners, VI
n NJ less than one dollar for each dog ana Two
doi,,rs for each bitch in said districts, ana
oo Collect, the tax levied upon the same, ana pay
Tho amount received by said collection INTO
tho the county treasury, at such times as may
no fixed upon by the said boards OF
county commissioners, and the ofncial
bond of any of said constables TALL
;nr TO account and make returns
as aforesaid shall be held liable for stch de-
fault. and all constables who shall faithfully
account as herein required, may retain
commission of twenty-five per cent. Oh tue
amount actually collected and paid into the
county treasury, and the net AMOUNT OF such
t,xes after payment of all charges, shall be
onnlicd TO the credit of the school funa OF
the respective counties of the State: ProVl-
ded. however, That every householder,
either owner or renter, shall be entitled 10
keep one male dog free Of taxation; but only
one dog. however, shall be thus kept free OF
taxation in or about any house. irrespective
NJ the number OF families occupying the
same. ,rd
See, 8, And be it enacted, That the board
of county commissioners OF each county III
this State shall furnish the conStaDles OF
their respcctiyc counties metal tags bearing
on their face the year for which the tax IS
naid and the Sex of said dog, and as far as
possible the tags for each year shall have
the same characteristic shape or color, and
shall be worn by all dogs that are either
taxed or exempted, and if any dog shall be
found going at large Off the premises Of
the owner of said dog without wearing
such tag it shall be the duty of the con-
stables to Kill said dog; and for each dog
so killed the constable killing the same
shall be allowed by the county commission
ers of the respective counties OF this State,
upon their being satisfied by such proof as
they NAV demand of the killing of said dog
by said constable, fifty cents for every dog so
killed, being found going at large without
wearing the aforesaid tag, and any person
may kill any dog, whether taxed or exempt
ed, which may be caught destroying or wor-
ryiDg sheep, either on bis own premises or
those of another; for which killing the owner
of said dog so killed shall be debarred from
receiving any sum in any court as damages
for such killing.
Sec. /. And he 1t enacted, That any per-
son who shall maicously remove from any
dog wearing the same the aforesaid tag, shall
be lined five dollars, to be recovered by the
usual proceedings in such cases. !
Sec. 5. And &c ii enacted, That in case OF
loss of tag issued by said constable to any
person for his dog, a duplicate may be fur
nshcd for said dog Oh payment of ten cents,
and satisfactory evidence being furnished
that the tax had been paid for the current
year on said dog.
Sec. 6. Ind be 1t enacted, That the ne
elect of any constable to perform the duties
required by this act shall be sufficient cause
Oh vi OluCt. aEC tAS pe'ioS VI
county commissioners of the several coun-
ties OF this state are hereby directed to I'M
mcdiately remove from office any constable
within their respective counties who shall so
neglect to perform said duties.
Sec, !. And be IL enacted, That all acts or
parts of acts inconsistent with this act be and
the same are hereby repealed.
Sec. 8. And be it enacted, That Cecil,
Somerset, Calvert, Washington, Prince
Georges, St. Mafy's, Caroline, Carroll,
Queen Anne's, Dorchester, Wicomico, Mont
gomery, Allegapy, and Worcester counties,
and Baltimore city, and all cities, towns, or
boroughs in which dogs are taxed by NUM-
ciral ordinance, be, and they are hereby, eX-
empted from the operations OF the provisions
of this act.
Sec. 9. Ind be 1t enacted, That this act
shall take effect from the date of its pas
sage.