460 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



CONNECTICUT. 



By the latest law for tlie protection of sheep — that of July, 1863 — the tax 

 iipon male dogs is one dollar each, females two dollars. The selectmen are 

 authorized to collect of negligent collectors the taxes unpaid, as in the case of 

 other arrearages due from collectors ; and they are not empowered to abate 

 such tax unless upon satisfactory proof that the dog is dead. The selectmen 

 are also empowered to institute suit against the owners of dogs for the amount 

 of damage for sheep maimed or killed ; and if the owner resides in another 

 town, the suit may be brought against that town. 



The provisions of the former law, yet partially in force, require the registry 

 of all dogs over three months old, and sanction the killing of all not registered , 

 and persons neglecting or refusing to I'egister are liable to a fine of three dol- 

 lars each. Dogs of known bad character shall be killed, although registered ; 

 and it is lawful to kill any dog taken in the act of woirying sheep. 



NEW YORK. 



The laws of this State upon this subject, as amended by that of 1862, im- 

 pose a tax of fifty cents for the first dog, $2 for each additional ; $3 for the 

 first female dog, and $5 for each additional. The assessors are required to 

 annex to the assessment roll the names of persons liable, and supervisors must 

 return them, when, if failure in paying the tax occurs, it becomes the duty of 

 the collector, and the privilege of any other man, to kill the dog. The col- 

 lector has a commission of ten per cent, on fines, and one dollar for each dog 

 killed. The previous enactment provided that the owner of dogs killing sheep 

 ihould be liable for injuries perpetrated; and in case the owner should not be 

 found, the loss should be paid out of the fund arising from the dog tax. 



NEW JERSEY. 



By the laws of New Jersey dogs are taxed from fifty cents to one dollar 

 sach. Persons may lawfully kill a dog found worrying or wounding sheep ; 

 damages sustained by such depredations are collectable from the township 

 committee, if the fund arising from such tax is sufficient. If the owner of a 

 dog committing depredations shall neglect for twenty-four hours after notifica- 

 tion to kill the animal, he shall forfeit ten dollars and costs to any person 

 suing, and triple damages to the owner of the stock injured or killed. A pro- 

 vision is made for the assessment of damages sustained, to be certified by 

 two disinterested freeholders, the amount not to exceed five dollars for each 

 sheep or lamb killed. Some counties have had special enactments allowing 

 full damages to be paid. 



William M. Force, secretary of the State Agricultural Society, says that a 

 recent act has been secured " by the provisions of which actual damages sus- 

 tained by any person were estimated by appraisement by two disinterested free- 

 holders, the oath of the owner being also required as to real cost and value, 

 the township where the injury was committed paying the owner, and the amount 

 annually ascertained being laid upon the owners of dogs as a dog tax." 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



No effective law is in existence in this State for the protection of sheep- 

 The owner of a dog, knowing that he has worried or killed sheep, and failing 

 to kill him after such knowledge, is liable for all damages done by him t/ierc- 

 aftcr. A dog may destroy a flock of sheep, without danger to himself or loss 

 to his master, until he has offended a second time. If he kills a second flock, 

 and his owner conveniently ignores the fact of the former offence, he may 

 await, with the wool yet in his teeth, for an opportunity to return once more to 

 his mutton. 



