The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-03-10
farmers GnlnmM.
Speed the PIOaU.o
A Tax on Dogs.

lhS lolloWlnS dTtlCle, from the eDfuary
number of the Maryland Farmer, in regard
to "a Tax on Dogs" may prove of interest
to our readers. We think with the amend
ments proposed the law we now have
would prove satisfactory: ....r.
Several we'll written and able articles
have, during the past year, appeared in the
columns of the Maryland Farmer on the
to the Acknowledgements subject of
the taxation of dogs for the protection of
sheep. That the number of worthless
dogs is great nuisance none can deny,
and any measure which will tend to abate
this nuisance would add greatly to the
good and comfort of the entire commu-
nifty.
Stringent laws have been passed for
some Of the counties and still exist, but
are not enforced; for other counties, SINH
lar laws have been enacted, but succeeding
legislatures have repealed them, at the
suggestion of members, who were elected
in place of those who proposed the law,
and for their patriotism, were rewarded
with permission to stay at home in the fl-
ture. The truth is, that with the masses,
dog law, as it is called, is thoroughly
unpopular, there is a certain feeling. inhe-
rent in the human breast, friendly to the
dog. The rich and poor alike take pleas
ure in his companionship, and the poor
man regards it as luxury to possess IL
dog, saying he does not understand why
this pleasure-having comparatively so
tew-should be taxed for the protection of
the rich mans sheep. From this cause q
tax upon dogs, merely for the protection
Of OH will l,o fnin
the right of suffrage is exercised, where
one-tifth, we will say, of the people keep
sheep, four-fifths do not, nor never will,
but they all keep dogs, and the argument,
that they will get their mutton and yarn
cheaper by taxing their dogs, although
truthful one, they do not or will not I'M
derstand. There has been good deal
said about the law of 1874 as being no
protection to sheep, therefore, of no use TO
the farmer. Now, after carefully reading
that law, it would seem, that while it does
not, (and that we think wise,) profess to
be a law for protecting sheep, still it
would have that desirable effect, indirect
ly, by decreasing the number of dogs, and
thereby also abating the nuisance in
great degree, because the vast majority of
tie people would be entirely satisfied if
they were permitted to have one free of
taxation, and this law provides, that every
householder should have one male dog SO
exempted. When this law first went into
effect, persons living in my neighborhood,
who had four or five dogs, reduced the
number to one, and were perfectly content.
Another portion of our people, and they
are generally an influential class, have
always bitterly opposed dog law. And
these are the fox hunters, but in converse
zion with an old veteran of the Disciples
of st. Hubert, q few days ago, he said,
"let the law of 1874 be amended by allow
ing bounty, say of IS on each fox killed
by hounds, to the owners thereof and we
can have no better dog law. You will
then have all parties satisfied; the poor
man with his one watch and coon dog ex-
enpted, and the fox hunter with his pack
will be able to pay the tax from the bounty
allowed, and in addition you make it to
our interest to kill the fox, instead of TAX
ing him alive for the sake of future sport
and as to the bounty it can well be afford
ed when the damage done to poultry aud
young pigs by foxes is considered"
TO amend the present law by allowing
this bounty, and making it imperative on
the County Commissioners ofthe respective
counties to have the law carried into effect
leaving the details to he arranged by them,
will no doubt accomplish all that can be
done in the premises, until, at least, the
people are educated up to the idea that
all dogs must be taxed or exterminated.
To undertake to enforce q law in this
State Mt present, which would permit n
constable to destroy dog on his owners
nrpn,ises because he had not maid n tax
on the dog, would just as certainly be re-
sisted to the bitter end, as if the life of
member.o of the household was threatened,
and for any one to destroy a dog, unless
caught "hagrapte delicto," in the act itself,
of killing sheep, or being rabid, would
engender feeling of revenge, that with
most people, would never rest until salts:
fed. A FARMER.