250 | Pennsylvania Dog Law. 
and feverish thirst for blood, is a species of mania; and it 
is sometimes the forerunner of complete canine madness. 
Sheep-killers can often be distinguished by a sharp and 
wild yell; very different from the tones of other dogs. 
Ourdog Jaw is a good one; and it does not exclude the 
remedy, at common law, against a person keeping a dog 
knowing him to be addicted to sheep-killing. Our act 
imposes a tax on dogs. For one dog it is light, for a se- 
cond, kept by the same person, or in the same family it is 
heavier ; and it is so increased for a third, or a greater 
number, as to amount, if not to a prohibition, at least to a 
check, on the unreasonable multiplication of the num- 
bers of dogs. The tax is paid into the county treasury. 
The value of sheep killed by dogs is ascertained by the 
persons chosen, in every township, for the settlement of 
township accounts; and paid out of the county treasury, 
on the certificates of the appraisers. The balance re- 
maining, after the demands on the fund are satisfied, is 
to be laid out, by the county commisioners, for the 
purchase of merino, or other good sheep; to be distri- 
buted for the benefit of farmers, in a mode prescribed. 
In the city, the tax is applied in relief of the poor rates. 
Those who are notified that their dogs have killed 
sheep, must kill them ; or subject themselves to conse- 
quences. | 
This law is intended for the protection of valuable 
property ; and to encourage the breed of the best ra- 
ces of sheep. Appraisers should enter into its spirit 
and meaning, by just valuations of sheep killed by 
dogs. If they make no distinction between good and 
ordinary breeds, one great object of the law is defeated. 
Speculating and capricious price should not, ’tis true, 
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