Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-03-25
DOG LAW.

TIC ioiio"h "iOi3 oue SohiP'NH"
siye law, is the best we have ever seen
upon the subject. 1t first declares en-
pha,ically-so as to avoid any chance
for litigation-what the dog is, nui-
sance.
Secondly, makes property holder liza
bic for tax levied upon the dog, and
gives him the right to destroy dogs. If
you want the luxury Of a dog You can
have it, by paying tor your indulgence
as you would for any other luxury and
very properly makes you responsible
for any damage that your pet lion
does to your neighbor. The farmer can
better do without dogs than sheep.
If the sports must have their CANNES
to look up game, either by night or
day, let him pay for their help
SHEEP AND DOGS.
What shall it be, sheep or dogs ?
Notwithstanding the losses annually in
tiicted upon stock-men and farmers gen
orally by the ravages of dogs, the Leg
islatures of most of the States have fail.
ed to place on the tatute-books enact
ments which are OF any great utility in
abating the dog nuisance The subject
has elected no little attention, and stren-
nous efforts have been made time and
again to provide some remedy, in vari-
Gus States, but with comparatively lit
tie success A few statistics compiled
in Ohio showing the necessity for a
stringent law upon the subject, will IL
lustrale the case in that and other States.
The number of dogs in Ohio in 1874
was lS6, S96, and the number of sheep
killed by them was 35,440, valued at
SIlO,O43. The number of sheep in
iured the same year was 3S,053, and
the damage by injury was s46,434 ma
king an aggregate loss for that year of
Sl56,3Is. 1t appears that during the
eight years from 1866 to 1873 inclusive,
the aggregate number of sheep killed
By dogs was POI ,6S9, and the number
injured was 1914, 93I, causing an aggre-
gate loss of S1,l9S,73l, an amount, &C
cording to the Ohio State JournaL,about
equivalent to the entire expense of State
legislation for that period.
Recently measure was introduced
into the Ohio House of Representatives
by Hon. J. NJ. Barrett, of Greene eoun-
", for the protection of wool-growers
aud the confscation of dogs. The meas
ure provides in substance AS follows:
/. That dogs are not property in
Ohio, but common nuisances, and that
every person owning premises where a
dog is kept or harbored, shall pay into
the county treasury an annual tax of
FIVE dollars.
2. That township and ward assessors
shall make annual returns of the dogs
within their respective jurisdictions to
the county auditor, by whom they shall
be placed on the duplicate for taxation.
s. Makes it unlawful for dogs to run
at large, and imposes fine OF FIVE dol
lars each offense, upon the owners OF
such ANIMALS VINO permit theh W 20 Oh
their premises. =,
4. Authorizes anybody, and makes it
the duty of constables and marshals, to
kill any dog found running at large,and
authorizes payment of bounty of two
dollars for each animal so killed.
5. Makes owners of premises where
aoos ara harhored liable for damage
done by such animals in the destruction
of sheep.
6. Provides that the owner of prem
Uses where a sheep-des.roying dog is
harbored, shall have right Of action
against the person harboring such ami
NAL
rs, 9. Provide for the collection and
publication of statistics rs to the num-
Der and value of sheep killed and iJur-
ed by dogs.