The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-08-02
Dog Law,


The following act was passed May D,
1877:
An act for the protection of woOlgrowers- and the
confscation OF dogs.
SECTION /. Be il enacted by the General
assembly of the State Of Ohio, That fori the
keeping of every dog in the State over the
age of months, the owner thercf shall be
assessed, and shall pay INTO the proper
county treasury, each year, the sum OF one
dollar. The sum so assessed shall be placed
upon the tax duplicate, and the collection
thereof made and enforced in all respects as
taxes. The money so assessed and collec-
ted, and all money collected on account Of
any dog listed by the owner for taxation,
according TO the provisions of section two of
this act, shall constitute special fund, to
be set apart and used for the purposes in
this act specified, and not otherwise.
Sec. g That each towship and ward as
SCISSOR, when taking list Of personal prop
erty, shall ascertain, by oaths or afhrma-
tions of the owners, and make returns upon
their statements of personal property, of
the number of dogs three months of
, age within his jurisdiction, specifying the
, names of each owner, the. number of
1 of such dogs kept or harbored by him on
\ the day preceding the second Monday of
April, and the owner may list or return
y for taxation any dog kept by him at any
b. arbitrary valuation he may desire to make
without being qualified thereto and every
~ ho
cording to such return, in addition to spe-
l cial assessment aforesaid; provided, if any
owner shall list or return for taxation any
4 dog kept by him, and pay the tax thereon
+. when due, at a valuation exceeding $50,
r he shall not be liable to So id special assess
r ment. The Auditor of State shall provide
the several Co., Auditors with the necessa-
f. ry forms for carrying into effect the provis-
II ions Of this act.
a Sec.!3. That in making up the tax du-
a plicate the County Auditor thal add, op-
i. posite the name of every person so return
I. ed as the owner of any such dog, the mum
20 Der Of such dogs kept or harbored by him
q. and duplicates and tax receipts shall be &C
al made as to show the amount assessed and
NJ collect of every such dog so returned. i
be at any time it shall be made to appear tc
az any County Auditor that the return of any
m dog, as aforsaid, has been omitted, he shal
in make such return himself, and proceed il
10 respect thereto as if the same had been or
for iginally made.
no Sec. 4. That it shall be unlawful for an.
ji- dog, unaccompanied by any person to be a
we large away from the premises Occupied b.
;th the owner of such dog, and any such owne
knowingly permitting ary dog to be SO q
ms large, except as aforesaid. shall be liable
"a fine of five dollars for every such Offence
all to be collected, with COSTS OF prosecution
M. in the name of the State of Ohio, befol
ext any justice of the peace or mayor havin
op- jurisdiction.
Sec. 5. 1t shall be lawful for any perso
to kill any dog found running at lare
contrary TO the provisions of this act.
Sec. Tha, if any dog or dogs sha
kill, worry, or injure any sheep, lamb, go
us' or kid, the owner OF overs of such dog {
dogs shall be jointly and severity liable
tate the full amount Of injury done by ar
My. such dog or dogs. And it shall be the d
cial ty of any court before whom the trial f
iced damages aforesaid is had, to declare Il
dog or dogs found to have occasioned Il
damages, common nuisances, and shall ma
s an an order requireing the defendant to k
- or such dog or dous or cause the Same 10
'I.n done, within twenty -four hours after t
the rendition of judgment.
r in Sec. T. That the owner of any dog |
ac- ted for taxation as aforesaid (bnt not OF
erwise,) which shall be killed contrry
the provisionr of this act, or malicious
%, ;r;u,o who, ro, 1;abIo ,o h. LII
and said, or shall be carried or enticed aw
rom from the premises of the owner for the p,
ably pose of being killed or injured, may reco
ans er of the person SO killing or iniuring
ID same, as exemplary damages, any sum ,
etc. exceeding that for which such dog star
er 4. so reformed
es an Sec. 8. That any person who may
aces, damaged by the killing or injuring
'aih- sheep, may present a detailed account
II be the injury done with the damages claim
more thefeior, TO the County Commissioners
year. the county wherein such sheep were xii
or injured, within the first three days
troys their next regular session in June or
shall cember, and shall make it to appear to
VIZ satisfaction of said commissioners, upon
tiary rol testimony of atleast two other pers
n one being freeholders of the neigh borht
that where the injury done, that the sa
80. is just and reasonable, that such injury
& G. not caused, in whole or in part, by any
many kept or harbored by the owner of 81
sheep, and that snch owner does not kn
enses whose dog or dogs committed such iniu
or if known and such account reduced
judgement, it could not be collected on
MS as. ecutio1 Said commissioners shall h
with sach accounts in tho order of filing,
j, 90 may allow the same or such part thereo
foroa they may deem right. II satisfied
on or such account is correct and just they 81
ether order the payment thereof out of said fu
IN 'ne II said fund be insufitient to pay all 8
E r;n, claims allowed. in full, they shall be +
n five pro rata; and if after paying all such ella
more at any such session, there should rem
We Fe- more than one thousand dollars of s
o 'ne T fund, the excess shall be transferred to
school fund and used for the benefit
ne, common schools in such county. No eli