Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-04-18
TaN On Dogs.

On May 5th, 1877, an act concerning the
taxation of dogs was passed by the Legisla-
ture, which We arc led to believe is very little
understood. The Assessor has already started
on his rounds, aud he will find that TO small
amount of lis labor will be the listing of
dogs. For the benefit of our readers we give
the main points Of the law:
SECTION l. Provides that the owners or
harborers of all dogs over three months old
shall be assessed 81 90 to be paid and collect
ed as other tax.
SEC. ?. That the owner must return under
oath with other personal property, the num-
ber of dogs kept by him. He may list his
dog at any vaiCe more than $4,000 for taxa
ton, in which event the special tax of 81, 90
Will not be collected.
SEC. B. That if any dog has been omitted
| from the assessors returns, the aditor, know
ing the fact shall place him on the duplicate
and charge tax same as if properly returned,
when raaking up the duplicate.
! SEC. l. That any dog, unaccompanied by a
person, fOunC running at large oil the prem
ises, shall render the owner liable to fine of
FS5, 90 for every such offense, to be collected
as other fines ond assessments are collected in
the name of the State of Ohio, before any
Justice uf the Peace Cr Mayor, having juris-
dictiOn
SEc. .. 1t shall be lawful for any person to
kill any dog SO found running at large.
SEC. q. That if any dog or dogs shall Eill,
worry or injure any sheep, lamb, goat or kid.
their owner or owners shall be Jointly and
Sc. orally liable Ia any person SO eutamaged,
to the lui amcurt Of injury done: AID il
shall ba the duty of the codrt trying the CAST
to declare such dogs cOInau nuisance aud
order the defendant to XIII the same or cause
lft 10 i3c uuI.c within tweuly-foar hours after
ren;i.u u ui Judgment.
,aC. :. llai II Iay dog listed for taxation
slial Ge k.iia,; Or H!aiiciuusly injured, or On
lced away t;r such purpose, contrary TO The
pro. .s:uus %! t..is dc the owner may recover,
ds rXln:,ia.y damages, from The person com
Uniting s3l "a III .nsc, and sum Eot exceeding
thst fsr W.Ji,.I c dog was listed FOR taxation.
5 t,,t ANY persons damaged hy The
killing or lHluIHS Ol sheep may present de
tailed accOun. ul lue same to the County Com
mSsOGerS ,,ithll the first taree days Of their
ncXj regular session in June or Dec, nlber, and
! If he shall prove to their satisfaction, upon
Ipaiol testimony Of at least two other free
holders of lie neighborhOOd that the same is
Just and reasonable, aid that such injury was
not caused 10y any dog kept or harbored by
the owner of such sheep, and thai said owner
! does net know whose dogs committed such
injury, ur if known, such account reduced TO
| Judgment could not he collected on execution
! Said accounts stall be heard in order Of their
filing, and the Commissioners may allow
them, or such parts thereof as they may deem
right, and order payment out If the dog tax
! fund. If said fund be insufficient TO pay
such cams in full, they shall DC paid pIo-rata.
If after paying all such ciailns at any regular
session there should remain more than 81, 900
of such fund. tie excess Shall be transferred
to the schooi fund for the use and benefit Of
the common schools of such county. No
claim shall be allowed unless presented at the
mex: session after the accruiug thereof.
SEC. 8. The word dog shall mean any
animal of the dog kind; and the word Gown
er," when relating to dogs, any keeper and
har60rer Of any dog, or any person permitting
d dog to be on their premises
These are the essential provisions Of the
law, which will result either in the collection
of a large amount of tax, terrible slaughter
of dogs, OF much unholy swearing.