Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-20
ooes' LICENSES.
Owners Please Step Forward and Pay-law
viii be Enforced.

City Clerk T.. A. Burleigh says that
the law regarding licensing dogs means
Just what 1t says. and that it will be
strictly enforced. this year. by the au-
thorities in Augusta.
The law provides that every dog ex-
cept those covered by q special kennel
license, must wear around it's neck a
collar distinctly marked with the own
Iers or keepers name and registered
number. The law makes it the duty of
|city authorities to cause all dogs with
in the city not so licensed and collared,
except those aforesaid. to be destroyed
ander warrant issued within ten days
after May first. and In addition thereto
to enter complaint against their own
ers or keepers. who are subject to a
tine of $40.
The licenses were due April I. Mr..
Burleigh says that after May 1, the de-
struction OF unlicensed dogs will com
mence. 1t is appealing to anyone, who
is at all thoughtful. to consider the en-
barrassing position that dogs are placed
In. They can't pay their own fines;
and it seems too bad that they should
have to suffer death. and lose what
might have been a successful and en-
jeyable life, as dogs lives go, simply
because their masters are too careless,
or indispOsed to do what the law re-
quires. The tax is $ll5 for male dogs:
81 for females
There Is among some an erroneous
impression as to the purpose of this
tax. and the use to which the money
is put. The owner in many cases think
that II his dogs license Is paid up. he,
the dog. can then so ahead and eat as
many sheep as he pleases. That's what
the money is for. says the owner Ii is
not exactly that II the dog who did
the damage is recognized and his own
er found. the damage is laid at that
owners door. When the perpetrator of
the deed is not discovered, then. the
city or town reimburses the losers
The money received from dog licenses
is sent the State treasurer. Claims for
sheep damage are paid by the cities
towns. etc. each according to the loss
in its section. The totals of the sheep
=. 80. 81.
treasurer. and the totals of the dog IL
censes. and after all sheep losses have
been reimbursed the city or town, ac.
cording to their valid claims by the
State. the balances, after deducting the
losses paid on sheep
claims throughout the State are re-
turned to the cities and towns, accord
ing to the amounts each paid in. The
average damage by sheep is about ten
per cent of the dog license.
1t can be seen by this that a town
may have. say, dogs whose taxes may
town may do any amount of damage to
sheep. but the town will receive the
same ,proportionate amount in return, |
rs any other town. 1t is felt by many |
that. on this account each town ought |
to pay it's own damages.
An interesting case of this interpre-
tation of the law that dog, after |
being licensed. can eat all the sheep he
wants to, recently happened in Au-
susta. A woman brought in a little |
doggie, Fido, by name, and paid the |
dues Now Fdo was about as big as /
an average kitten, and quite as docile |
'tido, dear said the owner, with |
some sense of the humor of the situa-
ton, You may now eat all the sheep |
you please" Poor sheep.
There is every indication that. unless |
the owners step up to the dough dish. |
there will be some new faces in the dog
world. that is beyond this.