Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-26
DOG LICENSES
MUST BE BOUGHT
State Officials Give Warning
Regarding the Operation of
the New Dog Code

Every dog in every township, bor-
ough and third class city of Penn
sylvania will have to be licensed and
kept under restrictions laid down In
the new dog law which becomes ef-
fective on January Is and which
will be vigorously enforced by coun-
ty commissioners, Secretary of Agri-
culture Charles e. Patton, and police
officers.
The new law which Is expected to
prove a big factor in the increase
of sheep and other livestock in the
state provides that the owners of all
dogs under six months of age must
obtain licenses from the county
treasurer or q justice of the peace,
and the metal license tag must be
worn by the dog at all times.
A summary issued today says:
Might straying is prohibited and
the owners of dogs must, between
sunset and sunrise, keep all dogs
confined or attached to chain or un-
der reasonable control. 1t is unlaw-
full for any person to harbor or keep
about his premises any unlicensed
dog.
ANY person may kill any dog,
which he sees in the act of pursuing,
worrying or wounding any livestock,
or attacking human beings whether
or not such dog bears the proper
license tag required by the provi-
sions. There shall be no liability on
such persons in damages or other
wise for such killing. Any unli-
censed dog that enters any field
shall constitute a private nuisance
and the owner or tenant of such field
or their agent or servant may kill
such dog while it is in the field
without liability or responsibility OF
any nature for such killing.
1T shall be the duty of every po-
lice officer to seize and detain any
dog or dogs which bear a proper
license tag and which are found run
ming at large and unaccompanied by
its owner or keeper. The owner of
a dog so detained shall be notified
to claim such dog within ten days,
and shall pay all reasonable expense
incurred by reason of it's detention
before the dog is returned. If,
after ten days from the giving of
such notice such dog has not been
claimed, such chief of police or his
agent, constable or high constable
shall dispose of such dog by sale, or
by destruction in some humane man
ner. 1t shall be the duty of every
police officer to kill every dog which
does not bear a proper license tag.
der the provisions of this act, such
police officer shall be liable to a
penalty of S2.00 for. each offense.
For the performance of this duty
he shall be paid the sum of $1.00
for OBTAINING a licensed dog and the
sum of $1.00 for the killing of a dog.
Whenever any person sustains
any loss or damage to any livestock
or poultry by dogs or any livestock
of any person is necessarily de-
stroyed because of having been bit
ten by such dog, complaint for dam
ages should be made in writing to
the township auditor or to any JUS
tice of the peace, magistrate or al
derman of the township, town, bor-
ough, or city. On establishment of
such claim as provided for by this
law, payment shall be made from
the county funds to the proper per-
son. If the owner of the dog or dogs
doing the damage be known, it shall
be the duty of the county commits
sioners to notify such owners to kill
said dog or dogs Immediately. If
said dog or dogs be killed by owner
he shall be exempt from all further
Upon failure to kill said
dog or dogs he shall be liable for
the damages caused by the said dog
or dogs.
"The enforcement of this law lies
with the Secretary of Agriculture,
county commissioners and police off,
GERS. The term police officer shall
mean any person employed or
elected by this Commonwealth, or by
a municipality, county or township
and whose duty it is to preserve
peace or to make arrest or to en-
force any law. The term includes,
game, fish and forest wardens."