Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-06-28
The New Dog Law.

The New Dog Law.
The following is the new dog law
passed at the recent sess ion OF The West
Virginia Legislature
A BILL relating 10 the protection OF
sheep and the conservation Of the food
supply necessary for the maintenance OF
the people.
Section |. II shall be unlawful for any
person to suffer or permit any dog in his
possession, or kept BY him about his
premises. to run at large on any unen-
closed land, or trespass upon any enclosed
or unenclosed lands OF another. II any
dog be suffered or permitted TO run al
large or trespass as aforesaid or kill or
assist in killing, injuring or chasing any
sheep or other domestic animals out OF
the enclosure OF the owner or keeper OF
such dog. proof that such dog was at
large at the time and place OF injury COM
planned OF shall be prima facie evidence
of liability and guilt, as hereinafter pro-
vided.
|. Section 2. The county court OF every
county and the council of every munich
pality shall prepare and deliver TO its
assessor, sheriff, conStables, or other
police officers, consecutvely numbered
substantial aluminium or brass tags, bear
ing the calendar year, and the name OF
the county or municipality issuing such
tag, which shall be delivered by them 10
any citizen OF the county or municipality
who may apply therefor and pay into its
treasury fee OF not more than twenty
five cents for each tag, which tags shall
be fastened upon the collars worn by
the dogs owned or kept by such citizens.
and for which fee such officer shall issue
receipt showing the name and address
of the citizen and the year and number
of the tag Such officer shall also keepa
record book showing the name and ad-
dress of each citizen to whom such tags
are issued, the number OF such tag so is
sued and the year thereof. Any citizen
may, and the sheriff. constables or other
police officers OF any county, district or
municipality, shall seize any dog found
unaccompanied by its owner or keeper
and running at large on any road, street
or other public place, or trespassing on
any premises other than the premises OF
the owner. If such dog is wearing a
collar bearing such tag, it shall be i'm
pounded and the citizen or officer so |
seizing and impounding said dog shall
Immediately thereafter by written notice
notify the owner OF such dog as disclosed
by the records herein provided Tor to be
kept that such dog has been seized and
impounded by him, and unless such
owner or keeper Of such dog shall, within
seven days from the receipt of said notice,
claim such dog, and pay such citizen or
officer fee OF two dollars for seiZing,
and fee OF ten cents tor each day it is
impounded, it shall be killed forthwith
in any humane manner. Provided, that
any citizen or officer may kill any dan
gerous or vicious dog or any dog not
registered as herein provided for, or any
dog permitted TO run at large after the
owner or keeper shall have had notice
not to permit such dog TO run at large, il
such dog be off the premises and out OF
the control OF its owner or keeper. No
citizen or officer shall be liable in damages
or TO prosecution by reason OF killingan
dog as herein provided. For every dog
seized and not claimed by its owner or
keeper as aforesaid, the county court
shall pay the citizen or officer entitled
thereto said fees and costs upon due proof
OF the seizure, impounding and killing OF
such dog; and the owner or keeper shall
be liable therefor in any action before the
court or justice having jurisdiction pro-
vided, further, that il shall be the duty OF
the common council Of every incorpor-
ated city, town or village in this State to
provide a suitable pound for such dog or
dogs so seized under the provisions OF
this act.
Section 3. II shall be unlawful for any |
unnaturalized foreign-born resident OF
this State to own or keep a dog OF any
kind in this State,
Section a. Nothing IN this act shall be
construed TO prevent any citizen OF this
State from lawfully hunting with dog or
dogs on any land owned,by him or by
any person from whom such citizen has
first secured permission to hunt with a
dog or dogs; and no citizen shall hunt
with dog or upon the land OF another
without written or verbal permission
from the owner or lessee thereof.
Section 5. Any person violating any
provision OF this act or failing or neglect
ing to perform any duty imposed by it,
shall be liable, in an action or prosecution