The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-10-08
Dog Law Can Be Enforced

/
failure, the State of Pennsylvania has
a dog law on it's statute books that can
be enforced, declared Fred Rasmussen.
Secretary Of Agriculture of Pennsyl-
vania, in addressing the County Com
missioners of the State in annual ses-
sion, here last week. The Secretary
traced the history of dog legislation
from 1909, whe the first law was
enacted, down to the present time.
and showed how all efforts to place
the enforcement of the dog laws under
local supervisor had failed.
He declared that the only thing now
needed, is to impress upon the dog
owners of Pennsylvania, that the dog
law is not a dead letter, and that it
will be actively enforced without fear
or favor, and that within short time
the licensing of dog would be re-
garded in the same light as the licen-
sing of an automobile.
The Secretary, after carefully re-
viewing the much talked of Dog Law
of 1917, urged that the commissioners
appoint a committee to confer with
him for the purpose Of working out
amendments to the dog law to be
placed before the legislature, next
January. The Secretary indicated
that more success in enforcing the
law, was attained in the counties
where special agents were employed
during the past year. Among the
changes in the dog law suggested by
/ the Secretary were:
Establishment of maximum indem.
mites for animals killed by dogs, to
conform with the present value of live
stock
Provisions for notification of county
commissioners and owners of dogs
damaging poultry or live stock, of ap-
| 1raisal of damage done.
| Provisions for employment of per
ons to enforce law where there are
no constables.
Discussing the functions of the dog
aw of 1917 Secretary Rasmussen said
''The law is not only for the protec-
ton of the sheep industry But for the
protection of the poultry industry. It
involves the question as to whether
the dog clan of the community should
have an unchallenged privilege to use
lyour flower beds and newly planted
vegetable gardens as playground; il
involves the question of wild life. OF
birds and game in our fields and for
tests; it involves the question as tc
whether your children can pass on the
street and play in safety; in fact, the
fundamental question of the Dog Law
is not based upon any claims of of
enses which may be perpetuated by
dogs running at large, but upon the
broad principle of the protection of life
and property to the individual as q
member of the community
Secretary Rasmussen quoted figures
o show that during the two years the
dog law has been in operation, the
sheep growing industry has been in
creased by 60.30S heads. while during
that time 147.053 dogs were. killed By
constables, peace officers and game
protectors. He declared, however
that it was not the intention of the
law or the object of the Department of
Agriculture, to make the dog pay the
penalty for his owners negligence
with his life.
Wherever a dog is found running
lat large" said the Secretary, in viola
ton of the law, or without a license,
it is the duty of the officers of the law
to kill the dog, but the law also pro-
vides very stringent penalties for
owning and harboring an unlicensed
dog, and it is inhuman to kill the dog
and let the master escape"
The matter of enforcing the Dog
Law of 1917 was put squarely up to
the county authorities In touching
on this, the Secretary said:
Although the Secretary of Agricul-
ture has general supervision over the
licensing and regulation of dogs as
prescribed in the Dog Law of 1917,
and to that end may employ all proper
means for the enforcement of the law,
and for this purpose may ask for
assistance from other State Depart
ments, it is clearly the intent of the
law that the details of the enforce
ment of the law rest with County
Commissioners and other county Off
GERS. The State does not receive one
penny of the dog license fee, all of
which goes to the respective counties.
The State should not, therefore, as
sumo the expense in regard to the
enforcement OF the law while at the
same time, thousands of dollars col
lected for this purpose are turned into
the county treasures"