The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-17
SHEEP LAW

Date Court-Flocks Suffer Most Dur
ing Hunting Season.
The state sheep law, under which
the farmers of Stark county in the
year ending in June, 1908, recovered
$2,470.S5 for sheep killed and injured
by dogs, has been amended In several
very important particulars. The
various changes are being discussed
by the many sheep growers through
out the state.
Under the new law, as now amend
ed, the old process is followed of hav-
ing two free holders view the dam
ages and file reports with the town
ship trustees who in turn fix the
amount of the damages. Their esti-
mate of the damages is forwarded to
the county board of commissioners,
which has within its powers a read
justment of the damage claim, il rea-
son can be found for such readjust-
ment.
One of the new amendments is that
If a verdict of damages as finally
adopted by the county commissioners
is not satisfactory to the owner, the
latter, upon appeal, may have his
claim adjusted by the probate judge.
The limit allowance for registered
stock killed is $50 per head as fixed
by the following provision
In case an increased allowance Is
made by the probate court the costs
shall be paid equally by the parties
and in case no increase is made the
party plaintiff shall pay the costs.
Provided, however, that no amount
shall be allowed for any head of reg
istered sheep or lamb eligible to reg
istry, In excess of $50.
What is known among farmers as
a sheep dog is any canine that has
mania for attacking sheep" said one
of the sheep raisers recently in dis
cussing the matter. Cali kinds of
dogs. go after sheep-whether it be
a shepherd or a bull dog. 1t is
claimed by farmers that a dog will
never attack sheep on the same
farm on which he belongs. Cases
have been known where a shepherd
dog, which drove sheep at home, has
left home and gone to neighboring
farm two or three miles away where
he has played havoc with another
mans flock, tearing and mutliating
them. Sometimes more than one dog
will join in an attack. Farmers
often discover that dogs are sheep
dogs by finding wool in their teeth"
It is usually during the hunting
season that the farmers fiocks suf-
fer most from the dogs, although they
are wont to injure and kill the sheep
at almost any time during the year.
Many times a dog will return to the
same flock and kill sheep after sheep
before he Is finally trapped and got
ten rid of. Farmers residing in the
immediate vicinity of the city suffer
from the dogs of hunters, who allow
them to chase the sheep just for the
fun and sport there is in it, not think
ing that for single minute that they
are injuring them.
Just recently several dogs attacked
flock of sheep belonging in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the city and al
though they were valuable hunting
dogs they were killed by the irate
FARMER The owner of the CANNES
demonstrated, but according to the
law prescribed he has no just re-
course. II dog is caught in the act
by the farmer he has basis on
which to bring suit against the
owner of the dog for any damage
done, providing, of course, IL the,
owner is good for the amount. The
owner cannot pay the damages the
farmer then has right to file claim
with the commissioners.
Sheep raising has never been con-
sidered much of an industry in Stark
county. In the last year there has
been but a slight increase in the
number of sheep within the county
of each succeeding year.
The auditors records compiled
from the assessors reports shows
that Stark county in April, 1908, had
15,O31 head of sheep valued at about
$45, 1893, and that in the year ending
June, 1908, S6,SO1 pounds of wool
were shoTn.
The sheep census by townships ac-
cording to the last report gives
Paris township the lead with 2,039;
Pike township second with 1000;
Sandy township, 1885; Marlboro
township, 1885, Sugar Creek town
ship, 1,O49; Osnaburg township, 921;
Bethlehem township, 889; Plain town
ship, 768; Jackson township, 740;
Lawrence township, 713; Lake town
BDup, DOL feTTy IOWuSuip, fOOj US
carawas township, 450; Lexington
township, 1922; Nimishillen township,
300; Washington township, S16, and
Canton township, 102.
For the year ending April, 1908, the
records show that 205 sheep were
killed and 204 injured, which is
about the usual number during the
year. The sixty claims for sheep
killed and injured amounted to
$2,470.35. The biggest claim amount
ing to SITS was paid on June 22, 1908,
to M. L. Boughman. The county
commissioners allowed claims which
amounted to 81, 40. 35, which shows
that none of the claims were cut
The sheep damages are paid from
the receipts of the 81 per head dog
tax. And provided that the sum is
insufficient to pay all the suit dam
age claims in full, they shall be paid
pro rata.