The daily gazette., 1879-02-11
For the GAZETTE.
Dogs! DOgs!

The increase in the number Of dogs in
this county is not only from loss bv
farmers Of cattle and sn sep, but the more
serious one of human life Ny the horrible
sufferings of hydrophobia.
In most Cases they are an intolerable
nuisance with but few redeeming fea-
lures. The most dogs are Kept by class
of low grade of society who donot pro-
vide suffi cient food for them, conseauent-
ly they run at large, i may say here,
starved, ready to devouT every eatable
thing within their reach. Very few
farmers attempt to keep sheep, although
they are considered the most profitable
stock. Mutton being one of the health
lest meats we have. Every hens nest,
birds nest and young rabbits within their
reach they destroy, and another abomin-
able nuisance by them in villages is their
barking and howling at nights where
there Is sickness. The cows in the upper
part of the county have been bitten by
mad dogs and had to be killed
Surely II is time that q very well dis
posed citizen should DIN in any measure
that will best arrest this evil.
1t is believed that the R Dad Commits
sioners OF each hundred should have a
law in charge for the damage commit tied
by dogs, for the reason i can be more
easily aud speedily executed.
The Assessor of each hundred in the
county should carefully as ssess the owner
or possessor of any dog Or dogs he may
posses. When the list is made up and
completed he shall hand the same over to
the Road Comnissi oners, who shall
make on estimate of the amount of tax
that may be required, and they shall lay
a tax to met the same; if INSULT cent or
to) high, to graduate the same year by
year thereafter as shall meet the dam
ages.
Any person having damage committed
by dogs on horses, cattle, pr sheep, shall
Immediately notify one of the Road
Commissioners who shall appoint three
disntercsted freeholders to meet togeth-
er aud appraise the same whose award
shall be final and concluSive the award
to be paid by an order on the collector of
the dog tax as soon as funds are in his
hands.
All owners of dogs shall keep collar
on their neck, with their name distinctly
marked theron, and in all cases where
damages are committed, the owner shall
be first responsible if he can be found
aud Is able.
All dogs running at lar ge without col
lar as aforesaid, it shall bd lawful to Kill
the same, and for every dog killed, upon
satisfactory proof before one of the Com
II issi ioners a reward shall be paid to the
person so killing of fifty cents by order
on collector as aforesaid.
Any person who shall keep a dog or
dogs in village whose barking or howl
ing disturbs the rest of any of the inhabi-
tants shall be notified of the same and if
the offence is not immed lately abated
such person shall be fined in sum not
less than five dollars and t he dog or dogs
may be lawfully killed.
All the duties required by the officers
under this act shall be coinpe nsated out
of the tax, the collector teing required
to pay over to his successor any surplus
remaining in hand after payment of such
orders as may be given on him.
Any hundred applying for this act it is
to be hoped the LegislatuTe Te will grant 1t.
Those having good dogs W II not refuse to
keep them on their premises and pay a
reasonable tax for the good and welfare
of the community. d.
The writer seems to have overlooked
the fact that dogs are already taxed to
cover damages to the loss of sheep by
them,-ED. GAZETTE.