Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-03-03
Another Dog Law.

Below will be found the text of Il pro.
posed dog law which has been offered in
the House of Delegates, with, as we are
informed, fair show of ii final passage.
We are requested to publish this bin in
order to draw out public opinion concern
ing the same in this county:
SEC /. Be 1t Enacted by The General
Assembly of Maryland, That The County
Commissioners of each and every county
in this State shall at some time prior to the
frs, day of April in each and every year,
divide the Election Districts Of their re-
Spective county into as many parts or
divisions AS there may be constables APP
pointed in such Districts, an shall assign
me of such divisions to each Cons able,
-" appointed, or the purpose hereinafter
mentioned.
SEC. 2. And be it enacted That it
hall be the buty of each constable to 90
'ver the division so assigned to him and
nake an inventory of all the dogs in his
division, and also the property they most
frequent as their home, giving an accurate
list of the number of dogs to e.ch piece
vi Bi'PtIbS =" iiISu S'tlti IiSt Stlai NC
out and returned under oath to the County
Commissioners before he frs day of May
IF such year, and at the time of tax ing
such lisr said constable shall leave at or
upon the property a list of all the dogs
charged by him to said property, which
list shall stand against such property I'M
less the party owning the property shall
appear before the County Commissioners
within ten days after said notice and con
vince them by evidence hat such dogs or
any number thereof have been destroyed.
and the said County Commissioners shall
have power To correct the return of The
cOnstuh es in heir discretion, and shall
allow said constables such compensation
for their services as they may think proper.
SEC. 3. And he il enacted, That upon
the re urn OF such lists by the constab e
as hereinbefore provid d, the County Com
missioners shall proceed to fix and APP
prise value upon each dog, 81 returned.
at er having corrected such notice as
,foresaid, which value shall be S25 for
each and every deg, and no less; provided
however, that the owner may have the
privilege of fixing higher Va uation up
on any dog.
SEC 4. And be it enacted. That after
the County Comm rssioners shall have app
praised and valued such dogs as af"re-
said, they shall cause their appraise-
ments ~ be added to the assessments of
the party or parties to whom the property
may hen I've assessed, giving to he said
property bv the re urn ot the constah c,
which said assessment shall | e reated rs
other assessments, ofproperty aud be taxed
accordingly.
Sic. :. And be il enacted. That the
parry or parties % whom any bog shall be
assessed. shal have the same rights and
ii lie to such dog that he or they would
have in any other property, and shall be
responsible f.r all injuries done 10y such
dog II any property, tNhether they Ice
aware Of his vicious propensitiCs or R"t)
and shall be entitled to sue for and recover
any damage done To- such dog provided,
however. hat they shall not lie allowed
t, recover for any dog a greater smount
than that fnr which he is assessed; and
provided, further. that No one shall be
liable for killing dog IN Sc defence or
when such dog Is actually engaged in the
destruction ~ stock or poultry.
SEC g. And lie ii enacted, That any
anc who sha suffer loss or injury 10 stock
ar poultry hy the action af dog ar dogs,
shall be permit {" sue the owner or
owners Of such dog or dogs sn ] recover
the value at his dam yes, or may within
zen days from the time ni the doing Of
such damage apply to the County Com
missinRers AMI have The damages N ged
hv two dis riCt persons 10 I've scl1c I'd hy
said Cuuu Commissioners, and the
County Commissioners sha !, upon the re
turn oftheir said aproin ets, (which re
turn shall lie under oatil pay 10 the said
party or par les damaged TIVE thirds OF
the va,ue of has or their said damages as
show ~ sIeturn, ,pnn the assign
ueat Hy saiIN7m aged party or PARTIES of
all his ar their aim for damages as aiorr-
said, - the said County Commissioners.
and the said County Commissioners may
then in their discretion main ain SUI
in their name in the same manner as the
assisuor might have done, and any re-
covcry thereon shall be paid in,o he
Treasury %. the county.
Sac. :. And be in enacted, That Tor
any failure hy a constable To perform he
du les imposed upon him by the County
under This act, or for any
willui error or errors in his return as here.
in provided fer he shall lie subjected TO "a
fine oi five hundred dollars To bc col rctcd
out OF his official bond. by suit in the
name of the County Commissioners
Size S And be il enacted, That this
act shall take effect from the da'e of is
passage.