Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-13
STATE DOG LAW To
COME Up TODAY
Bakers Bill Is Special and Con-
tinuing Order for To-Day
at Noon.
SHARP FIGHT Is EXPECTED
Fox Hunters Seek to Exempt
Some Counties = Farmers
Want Real Protection.
SHARP FIGHT is EXPECTED

This is dog law day in the House OF
Delegates.
The Baker bill. designed 90 enact a
Statewide Law TO license dogs and to
establish uniform regulations under
which they may be kept. comes up
under special and continuing order at
noon.
opposed to tho bills passage arc fox
hunters, dog fancicrs and citizens OF
nonshcep-raisinE counties, who place
the freedom Of the dog above the
actual monetary loss incident to the
food he cats. the stock he kills and the
disease he spreads.
For the bin are delegates from the
sheep raising counties, farmers organ
Naiions. food conscrvationists and econ
pinisis, who, while admitting the value
OF the dog as faithful and lovable
friend. contend that Virginia loses
millions through his presence under
existing regulations.
The contendinG forces, through their
representatives. arc expected to fight
hard for their respective aims, the one
processing belief that the dog is no,
Il serious menace, the other contendinE
that he is
DOGS COST MORE TO FEED
THAN Is SPENT on SCHOOLS
Proponents OF tho bill End strength
ior their contention in figures given by
the Department OF Agriculture OF the
United Statcs.. These figures say there
arc 100000 dogs in Virginia. and that
to feed these it costs sS.50o.oo0 each
year. This sum Is moro than the state
spends on it's school system by $1,000
600. II is also 100000 more than the
State spends for the administration of
It's government.
The Department OF Agriculture also
says Virginia is sl5,ooo.o0o below. it's
normal in sheep raising because Of the
unrestricted presence Of the dog. The
total actual money loss is more than
the estimated requirement for building
the state Highway system by $500
| GOO Added to this Is the cost of treat
ment OF persons bitten BY supposedly
| rabid dogs, the suffering incident
| thereto and the value of stock killed
because so bitten. More than 900 per-
sons Of Virginia have been treated for
rabies in the Pasteur Institutes of Rich
mond and Washington since 1912.
Exempt CERTAIN COUNTIES
When the bill comes up to-day many
efforts will be made to amend il 81
as TO exempt certain counties from its
provisions. If these amendments arc
allowed II is contcnded that the law
embodied in tho bill will be no more
effective than the several local option
laws now in the Code. Supporters OF
the bill will fight bitterly any effor,
TO amend ii in any way
The Virginia State Farmers Insti-
tutc. in session here January 81, adopted
resolutions urging the General Assem-
bly, TO pass the bill. The farmers, in
these resolutions. state that Virginia
dogs destroy enough every year to feed
an army.
RESOLUTIONS OF
FARMERS INSTITUTE
The resolutions follow:
we are told that an adequate sup.
ply of meat is essential to a successful
prosecution of the war, and VIC know
that both meat and wool arc a neces
sity at all times. and yet we have per
! mitted the useless mongrel dog to prac-
t!cally drive sheep husbandry out OF
lHt Skdlc.
The damage caused by dogs in the
State each year would feed an army
and yet the farmer has been unable &c
, secure any adequate protection from
this evil. We, therefore. urge the pres
ent Legislature to enact an effective
dog law TO the end that Virginia farm
ers may be permitted to do their part
in winning tho war. and We especially
recommend that such dog law shall con
tain ample provision for its rigid en-
forcement and the tax he sufficient IS
high TO make il undesirable to keep a
| majority of the dogs now running al
| large in the State. and suggest a min
imum tax OF $3.50 for male and s.
for female dog. and We especially
ccommcnd tHas, whatever dog law
may Lc enacted, shall prevail through
out the state without Affirmative ac-
tion by any local authorities, and that
annual tags be furnished by .hc State
1