Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-09
NEW DOG LAW.

last Legislature-that the CITrzEs
feels justified in publishing the Law
in full which will be found on pages
400-402 of the printed acts of the
General Assembly of Virginia 1901
1902, and which is as follows:
CHAP. 40s.-An Act to protect
sheep and other stock in the counties
of this State. Approved March 90
1902.
L. BE it enacted by the General AS
sembIy of Virginia. That it shall be
the duty of the commissioners of rev.
enue in the counties of this State to
take annually, at the time of listing
the taxable property there, a list of
all dogs over three mouths old, show
ing whether male or female, with
the name of the owrer or person in
whose possession the same is found,
| upon the oath or affirmation of the
owner or house-keeper, or head of
the family, with whom, or Oh whose
lot or plantation, any dog or dogs
may be found, as to the number of
dogs such person may own or
have, or as may be on his lot, plau-
tation, or premises, whether owned
by him (or herr or not, and shall
return such list of dogs to the clerks
office of their respective counties at
the time when they return their lists
OF taxable property. under the like
tines, penalties, and forfeitures as are
now incurred by them for neglect of
similar duties under existing laws as
to their duties in listing and return
ing taxable property.
2. That in every case where the
owner of the dog fails to paw by the
trst day of July next succeeding the
return of said lists the license tax
provided for in the third section of
this act, it shall be the duty of the
constable of the district in which
said delinquent resides to kill said
dog, for which he shall receive fee
of fifty cents out of the funds here
matter provided, and to that end the
said constable shall obtain annually
during the month of July from the
county treasurer list Of all delin-
quents under this act in his district,
and shall, within thirty days after
receiving such list, kill said dogs,
unless the tax on them, together
with fee of twenty-five cents, to
said constable ia forthwith paid, aud
on his 81 - ~. ,,rn n,s,,..,.
cable, he shall pay fine Of five dol
lars for each dog he so fails to kill.
The constable shall at the expiration
of the thirty days account to the
treasurer of his county for all taxes
collected by him under this section.
3. That when said commissioners
of the revenue shall have ascertained
the number of dogs, they shall assess
a license tax of fifty cents per head
on all male dogs and all spayed
female dogs, and one dollar per head
on all unspayed female dogs, and the
said sums so assessed shall be collect
ed and accounted for by the county
treasurer as county levies are by law
directed to be collected and account
ed for, and the treasurer shall keep
a separate account Of the fund aris-
ing from said tax. The said fund
shall be, and the same is hereby ap-
propriated for remunerating the in
habitants of said counties for any
loss they may sustain from dogs
killing or crippling their sheep,
lambs, or any other stock, and for
paying the expenses necessary to
carry this act into effect; ana any
balance remaining on hand for any
year shall be appropriated to the
county school fund of public schools,
or to the public road fund, as the
board of supervisors may determine,
to be used in accordance with the
laws governing the disposition of
such funds.
4. If it be found that the fund
arising from this act for any year
shall be insufficient to pay expenses
incident to execution of this law, and
then to pay the whole amount of
damages inflicted by dogs on the
owners of sheep, lambs, or other stock
property in any of said counties, each
sufferer shall De paid out of said fund
in proportion to the loss sustained.
5. That it shall be the duty of
any justice of the peace in said coun-
ties, on the application of the owner
of sheep, lambs or other stock, or
his agent, which have been killed or
wounded by dogs (not his own),
after the passage of this act, to issue
summons to three discreet persons,
who are qualified voters (two of
whom may act), who, being legally
sworn, shall go forthwith on the
premises where such sheep, lambs
or other stock may be and examine
into the facts and justice of the
claim, and appraise the amount of