Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-26
The Dog Law

For the benefit of the many per-
sons interested in the sheep indus
try in Highland county and the
protection of their sheep from the
ravages of dogs, | have for the
benefit of all interested decided to
publish in the Highland Recorder
some general information as to the
law, the payment of taxes and the
procedure necessary to recover for
sheep or other stock that may be
killed or crippled aud the amounts
allowed for said loss. | draw these
opinions from the law and from
having had the board to pass lately
on an account of mine that pre-
sented nearly all the points of in
terest.
No sheen will be paid for at a
higher price than the assessed value
of the same as shown by the COM
missioner's books, and in the event
the one who has suffered the loss
was not the owner Of the sheep at
the time of the assessment, then
they shall be Of the assessed value
of like sheep in the county. The
value of lambs will be paid in the
same way. No charge can be made
for damages except for those sheep
that are actually killed or crippled.
No approximation of damages that
the flock may have suffered from
being scattered, or run away and
lost, or from the mothers having
been killed from the young lambs
will be allowed or paid. The ac-
count must be made out and pre-
sented to the board of Supervisors,
and accompanied by proof of wit
nesses, produced before the board
to testify in person as to the fact
of the loss. Sheep that are lost or
caunot he found will not be paid
for unless there is proof that thew
have been killed by dogs. The
costs of the witnesses and all ex-
penses incident to proving the
claim for |, IS must be borne by the
party making the claim and no
cost will be taxed up against the
fund for that purpose nor will they
be recovered from that fund finally.
The year begins on the first of
April and reaches to the first of
the following APRIL. The claims
for sheep killed between the first
of April 1902 and the first of April
1908 must be presented to the
board in time to be allowed before
the first day of July 1903 and in
order that that may be done, the
account ought to be before the
board not later than the June meet
ing. The losses that are allowed
up to and including that meeting
that have occurred before the LIST of
April preceding are directed to he
paid in July or August following.
Ali losses that occur after the first
of April 1903 and between that
time and the first of April follow
ing. 1904. are not paid until in
July or August 1904 though they
may be allowed any time after they
occur until the June meeting of the
board in 1904.
In the event that the fund realiz-
ed from the taxes on dogs will not
nav full the losses then it shall
be prorated by the treasurer.
1t is the duty Of the owner of
any farm, lot or premise to report
to the commissioner all dogs that
are on said lot, farm, or premise
and if they are not his own to in
form the commissioner who the
owner of the same is. The tax on
dogs must be paid by the % day of
July, lists of the same being placed |
in the hands of the treasurer not |
later than the first Of July. The
treasurer is not expected to call
upon you for the taxes but on the
rs of July, the list Of delinquents
will be placed in the hands of the
sheriff or constable to kill said dogs
and in order to prevent the killing
of said dog an additional charge of
rs cents is taxed up against the
owner. 1t is the duty Of the sheriff
when brought to his attention or
his knowledge to make diligent
effort to kill any delinquent or un-
taxed dog and any one is at liberty
to kill an untaxed dog without fear
of molestation therefor, regardless
of how valuable he may be. Any
one is also at liberty to kill sheep
killing dog whether he has been
taxed or not. The sheriff is to re-
ceive 30 cents for every untaxed Or