The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-20
SYNOPSIS Of the New Dog Law.

The law for assessing and-taxiug dogs
in this State, passed by the last legisia-
ture, and signed by Governor Beaver on
the - of May, 1889, is very stringent
one. The following synopsis gives the
points
The law provides that from and after
the passage there shall be assessed,
levied and collected annually in every
township and borough of the Common
wealth from the owners o. dogs tax of
fifty cent for every male dog. and one
dollar for every female dog, the sum TO
be collected with the other township
taxes. These sums shall be paid TO the
Treasurer of the Board of school Direc-
tors in the districts and shall be kept
separate by the Treasurer SO that he
will! know how much has come into his
hands from this source. The money
shall constitute fund from which per-
sons sustaining loss or damage to sheep
by dogs may be paid for such loss,
along, with the costs necessarily incur
red in establishing their loss. The AS
SCISSORS of every borough and township
shall annually. when making their other
assessments, ascertain the number of
dogs in their respective districts and the
names of the owners, and how many of
each sex are owned or kept.
The County Commissioners shall an
nualiy make a true return to TIE b ard
of School Directors of the number of
dogs owned therein, together with the
owners names, and the School Directors
shsll cause the tax to be collected in
the same manner as and along with the
school tax.
Persons who have sustained loss or
damage to sheep may make such COM
plant before any OF the Justice of The
Peace, and the latter shall notify the
owner OF the dog OF dogs causing the
loss and If the owner does appear las
soon as practicable and pay the loss
caused by his dogs, the Justice shall no
tify the Township Auditors TO sp-
praise the loss sustained by the claim
ant they have power 10 summon wits
nesses aud investigate the case thor
oughlY, aud shall determine and report
to the Justice the amount of damage if
any. The report shall be signed by
scTibes the manner in which the Jus
tice shall then proceed in bringing the
matter before the School Board.
When the latter receives such notifica-
tiOn and IL appears a loss has been sus-
tanned, they shall file the amount of the
approved claim with the Secretary of
the Board, inclucing the necessary
costs incurred, 10 be paid out OF the
fund raised by the tax on dogs. If the
owners of the dogs doing the damage is
responsible, then the Treasurer of the
Board shall Immediately collect the
damages and costs from him, and place
the proceeds in the sheep fund. If it
shall be found at the close of the cur~
rent year that the dog tax is not suffi-
cient 20 pay for all losses incurred uD-
der the law, then the School Board
shall pay pro-rata share TO the several
claimants if the funds are sufficient,
then the claims shall be paid in full.
All dogs IN the State are made per-
sonal property and subject of larceny.
Justices shall be allowed fee of fifty
cents in every case that comes before
them. OwEers of the dogs causing loss
may voluntarily pay the damages, with
out awaiting action. In case there is a
surplus in the sheep fund in the hands
of the Treasurer at the close of the cur
rent year amounting TO Sl60, the same
shall be transferred to the school fund
of the district for school purposes. The
law does not repeal or affect the pro-
vision of any existing law on the same
subject in any county or district. The
law is very important one. not only to
farmers, but to all dog owners.
The law in full may be found on pa
ges 222 3-4 of the phsmphlet laws for
1889.