The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-10-03
NEW DOG LAW FOR MICHIGAN
Dog Owners Should Make Themselves
Familiar With New Law, Effec-
tive After January 10, 1920

For the benefit of farmers and dog
owners generally, we here make gen.
erous extracts from Michigan's new
"Dog Law" which should be of gener-
al interest. A reading of this article
will show that great changes have
been made, all losses in the future be-
ing paid from the general fund of the
county.
According to the new Dog Law, it
will be unlawful from and after Jan.
10, 1920, to own a dog four months
old or over unless dog is licensed.
Every dog, between sunset and sun
rise, must be confined on the premises
of the owner, or custodian. The State
Live Stock Sanitary Commission shall
have general supervision over the Ii
censing and regulation Of dogs, and
the protection of live stock and poul-
try from dogs.
Under this law county treasurers
must purchase their dog tags from the
State Live Stock Sanitary Commits
sion, and the tags will be sold at cost
| to the treasurers, and the Commission
will furnish the county treasurers be-
fore Nov. 18th a book containing the
proper forms for issuing licenses.
Before January 10, 1920, every own
er of dog four months old or over,
and on or before the same date each
year thereafter, must apply to the
county treasurer in writing for a IL
cense for such dog kept by him. If a
tag is lost it will be replaced without
cost by the county treasurer upon pro-
duction of the license and a sworn
statement regarding the loss. No Ii
cense or license tag shall be transfer
able to another dog.
Every township or city treasurer in
the State shall on or before Dec. 1,
1919, and of each year thereafter, ap-
ply to the county treasurer for the
necessary license blanks and tags for
the ensuing year, and after receipting
therefor, may issue dog licenses and
tags in like manner, and upon like
application as prescribed for issuing
licenses by the county treasurer shall
not later than January 25th of each
year return to the county treasurer
4 all unused tags together with the book
and books from which he has issued Ii.
censes with the stubs properly filled
out.
The County Treasurer shall keep a
record of all dog licenses and kennel
licenses issued during the year in each
city and township, the record to con.
tain the name of the person to whom
the license is issued, description ot
the dog, age, breed, sex, ETC., and the
record shall be public.
The Supervisor of every township
and the assessor of every city in the
state, shall annually on taking his as.
sessment of property, make diligent
inquiry as to the number of dogs own.
ed, harbored, or kept by all persons ir
his report of same to the County
Treasurer on or before June 1, 1920
and annually thereafter, on a blanl
form furnished by the State Liv,
Stock Commission, setting fortl
name Of every owner or keeper of an!
dog or dogs subject to license. Fol
this work the Supervisor or Assessor
shall receive 10 cents for each dog S,
listed.
On June 18th, 1920 and each yea
thereafter, each County Treasure
shall make comparison of his rec
ords of the dogs actually licensed il
each township with the report of tn
Supervisors or assessors to determin
and locate all unlicensed dogs. o.
and after June 18th of each year ever,
unlicensed dog, subject to license, i
declared a public nuisance, and tn
County Treasurer shall immediatel
thereafter list all such unlicensed dog
by the returns in his office of the sup
ervisors and assessors, and delive
copies of the lists to the sheriff an
also to the prosecuting attorney. o
receiving from the county treasure
the name of any owner of an unlicen
sed dog, the prosecuting attorney shal
at once commence proceedings agains
the owner of said dog as required b
the provisions of the law. 1t shall b
the duty of the sheriff or any membe
/, of the State Constabulary to locat
and kill, or cause to be killed, all sue
unlicensed dogs. Failure, refusal o
neglect on the part of any sheriff
carry out the provisions of this sec
tion, shall constitute nonfeasance
office. The sheriff shall also kill, o
complaint from the Prosecuting Al
torney, any dog that is in the habit c
running at large unaccompanied b
his owner or agent.
1t is the duty of every police Office
on complaint, to kill any dog or dog
which are found outside of an incol
porated city running at large and III
accompanied by owner or keeper. TT
Supervisors shall determine remune
alton of such officer for doing tn
work.
Any person may kill any dog in Il
act of pursuing, worrying or woun'
ing any live stock or attacking pc
sons, and there shall be no liabilii
on such person in damages or othe
wise for such killing. Any dog tn;
enters any field or enclosure outsit
of an Incorporated city, unaccompal
led by its owner or owners ager