The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-21

MEASURES SUGGESTED FOR THE PROTECTION
op SHEEP FROM THE RAvAGrs OF DOGS
now TIRE PRESENT LAW Is TO DE MADE Ef-
PEcTivE.
On Monday last meeting Of the Wool
Growers Association Of Augusta county
was held IN Staunton, Va, and number
OF persons interested in shcep-raising
were present. 4. NJ. Bowman, presi-
dent OF the Association, occupied the chair,
anu u. W. hoincr, Esq, acted n secretary.
The object Of the meeting was 10 take
steps TO have the present dog-law changed,
so rs to render II efficient in carrying out
the purposes il was intended 10 accomplish.
During the fiscal year ending May |, 1881,
there were i5i sheep killed and wounded
by dogs I'm Augusta county, the assessed
value OF which, including costs, was
S2,'23.52. The whole gross dog-taX, penal
" added, amounted TO Sl,16l.0j; from
which was deducted S22l.j0 for deln-
quents; 1861 trcaSurerS commission;
SS1.ii commissioner Of revenues tax for
listing dogs; SS5 for ScalpS Of foxes, wild
cats, &c.; S501.i5 for justices and APP
praisers' fees; and - for printing-thc az
grcgate OF which, deducted from the gross
tax OF Sl,16l.05, leaves S7S0.S7 with which
10 pay the S2.723.5 30 for loss OF sheep, or a
pro rata of about 2St per cent.
During the fiscal year l3l persons sIs-
tanned loss by having sheep killed by dogs.
In view Of the large amount Of money
invested in sheep and OF the desire to ma
teTially increase the investments in that
interest, and in view of the inefiiciency OF the
present law TO afford protection, material
amendment to the statute was deemed alb
Solutely necessary. \ committee appointed
TO shape such an amendment made 4 report,
the substantial features OF which were rs
follows Fixing the tax nj 80 cents for each
male dog and $500 for each female. Re
curing assessors 90 carefully list all dog
i'm their districts. Requiring cOnSlablcS 10
kill all dogs the tax upon which have not
been paid, and providing that the officer
shall have 81 for each dog so killed, 10 he
paid out Of the general fund. Under the
present law the officer is required 10 Kill
tho dogs and look 10 the owners thereof
for his pay. \ person who will not pay
his tax to prevent the dog being killed will
certainly not pay double the amount TO have
him killed. and 50 the officer performing
the duty got nothing for his trouble, and
consequently this provision OF the law was
practically moperaHyc.l
The report further provides that ap-
pralscrs who now receive % cents each
shall bc allowed no compensation, and the
fee for the magistrate be reduced from
. ~ 80 to - cents.
After considerable discussion, an amend
ment TO the report was offered by Dr.
Hanger and finally adopted. This amend
mcnt fixed the tax at 81 on male dogs and
s. on females.
Should the bill as recommended by the
Association become a law the revenue de-
rived from il will not only meet all losses
for sheep killed by dogs, but will leave a
handsome surplus. II is proposed that this
surplus shall be allowed TO accumulate
until it amounts TO $4,000, which shall be
set aside as Il permanent fund to meet any
extraordinary contingency. After this per-
manent found shall be provided the sur
plus arising under the dog law shall 20
into the general fund and be disbursed for
county purposes.
There was strong opposition to the propo-
SitiOn fixing the tax at 81 and s., but it
finally prevailed. \ number OF members
expressed the belief that the bill will not
get through the Legislature in its present
shape owing to this increae of the tax.