The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-20

The Lancaster Ne,c Era has made
the following careful synopsis of the
new dog law. II covers the State
The law'provides that from and after |
its passage there shall be assessed,
levied and collected annually in every |
township and borough of the Common
wealth from the owners of dogs a tax
of fifty cents on every male dog, and
one dollar for every female dog, the
sum 20 be collected with the other
township taxes. These sums shall be
paid to the Treasurer of the board Of
school directors in the different dis
tricts. and shall be kept separate by
the treasurer, so that he will know
how much has come into his hands
from this source. This money shall
constitute a fund from which persons
sustaining loss or damage to sheep by
dogs may be paid for such loss, along
with the costs necessarily incurred in
establishing their loss The assessors
of every borough and township shall
annually, when making their other as
sessments, ascertain the number of
dogs in their respective districts aud
the names of the owners, and how
many of each sex are owned or kept
The county commissioners shall annu-
ally make a return TO the board OF
school directors of the number of dogs
owned therein, together with the
owners names, and the school directors
shall cause the tax to be collected in
the same manner as and along with
the school tax. Persons who have sus-
tanned loss or damage TO sheep may
make complaint before any justice of
the peace, and the latter shall notify
the owner of the dog or dogs causing
the loss, and if the owner does not APP
pear "as soon as practicable and pay
the loss caused by his dogs, the justice
shall notify the township auditors to
appraise the loss sustained by the
claimant they have the power to sum
mon witnesses and Investigate the case
thoroughly, and shall determine and
report to the justice the amount of the
damage, il any The report shall be
sigued by the mai )rity of the auditors.
A section prescribes the manner in
which the justice shall then proceed in
bringing the matter before the school
board. When the latter receives such
notification and it appears loss has
been sustained, they shall file the
amount of the approved claim with
the secretary of the board, including
, the necessary costs incurred, to be
/ paid out OF the fund raised by the tax
on dogs. If the owner of the dogs
, doing the damage is responsible, then
[ the treasurer of the board shall i'm
mediately 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 current year that
+ the dog tax is not sufficient to pay for
all losses incurred under the law, ther
Q the school board shall paw a pro-rata
share TO the several claimants if the
: funds are sufficient, then the claims
r shall be paid in full. All dogs in thu
, State are made personal property auC
E subject to larceny. Justices shall be al
lowed fee of fifty cents in every cas-
that comes before them. Owners o
dogs causing loss may voluntarily pa.
the damage, without awaiting action
L. In case there is surplus in the sheel
fund in the hands of the treasurer a
the close of the current year amount
s ing to S1OO, the same shall be trans
10 fered to the school fund of the dlstric
} for school purposes The law doe
not repeal or affect the provision
p of any existing special law on tn
,e same subject in any county or distric
s. The law is very important one nc
m onlv to farmers but to all dog owners