The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-25
SHEEP AND DOGS.
Laws in Different States Regulating the
Liability of Dog-Owners.

Liability of DOg-Owners.
Not only is the owner of dog liable
for its acts, but any one who harbors it
or allows it upon his premises, is also
liable, But a person is not responsible
for the acts of a dog which he tries to
drive away from his premises. or for
those of dog allowed to remain tenn
porarily there, as in the case of one
who keeps boarders and permits them
to keep dog on the premises; but in
that case the owner of the dog is liable.
The laws with regard to liability for
injury done by dogs to sheep vary con-
siderable in the different States. In
Verm mt, New York. Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Ohio. California, Tennessee,
Alaba ma, Minnesota, Oregon. Illinois,
New jersey and Mississippi the stat ties
expressly provide that any person may
kill dog found worrying or injur ng
sheep. In Michigan any person may,
without render ng himself liable
to civil or criminal action. kill
a dog he may see chasing. wor.
rying, wounding or killing sheep,
swine. cattle or any other domes-
tic animal In Maryland the owner of
dog is exempted from liability for
sheep killed. if he kills the dog imme-
diately on receiving notice of the in
jury; but if he falls to do so, the owner
of the sheep may kill the dog and re-
cover double damages. In New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts the owner of
any domestic animal, and in Wisconsin
the owner of any sheep or lambs, may
recover from the town for any injury
inflicted by dog. If he chooses the
owner of the injured animal may sue
the owner of the dog instead of claim
ing damage from the town; but if he
prefers to prove his loss to the super
visors, and accept an order on the
town treasurer for the amount, the
claim is transferred to the town, which
may recover against the owner of the
dog; but the owner of the sheep can
not thereafter recover against him. In
Rhode Island, the first time dog wor-
ries a sheep the owner can recover
damages from the person who harbors
or owns the dog. If after the first no.
tice the dog is still allowed to live and
Injuries sh ,ep again, his owner is liza
bic for double damages, and the
court may order the animal killed
In Alabama, California, Vermont
/ and Wisconsin double damages can
also be recovered. In Connecti-
cut whoever has lost by dogs worry
ing or killing his sheep must give
notice to the town selectmen. and
these may sue the owner or harborer
of the offending dog, and unless the
sheep owner is reimbursed by the suit,
the Town becomes liable for the dam
ages. 70 provide a fund to meet this
lab lily, dogs are licensed, and the
license fees are.held to meet such claims.
When several dogs belonging to
different owners unite in comm ting
m schief, at common law each owner
is liable ouly for tho acts of his own
animal. There would naturally be
considerable difficulty in ascertain;ng
the tent of the injury done by each
dog, but the jury can adopt any reas IN
able rule for ascertaining the damages.
If the an mails are of unequal size and
have different capacities for mis- chief,
the jury may take into consii r ton
the damage done by each in al p OH.
mating the liabilities of the Owners.
BY statute, however. in Connecticut.
Vermont and OHIO, the several owners
OF dogs that unite in mischiefare Jointly
liable therefor; while in Pennsylvania
each owner is liable for the whole in
jury in the doing of which his dog was
Jointly engaged. -R"rGE New Yorker.