DOGS AND DOG LAWS. 461 



DELAWARE. 



Legislation relative to protection of sheep was initiated early in this Stat«. 

 A law of 1811 made the owners of dogs liable to the value of all sheep killed 

 by them; that of 1820 forfeited the lives of dogs at large without collars on 

 their necks. By the law of 1811 the tax was from 25 to 50 cents for the sup- 

 port of the poor ; by that of 1817 it was from 50 cents to $3 for a fund to pay 

 for sheep killed by dogs ; by that of 1839 from 50 cents to $1 for county pur- 

 poses ; by that of 1843 one dog was exempt, others $1 each for county pur- 

 poses; by that of 1853 from $1 to $2 for a fund to pay for sheep killed by 

 dogfi. These are repealed, their principal provisions being incorporated in the 

 following laws : 



"The owner or possessor of a dog which shall kill, wound, or worry a sheep or lamb shall 

 be liable to pay the owner of such sheep or lamb the full value thereof, and it shall be lawful 

 for any person to kill such dog. It shall be lawful for any person to kill any dog running at 

 large in Newcastle county, beyond the owner's premises, without a collar upon his neck with 

 the owner's name upon it." 



The law of 1862 requires an assessment list of persons owning dogs to be 

 returned to the levy court. The tax is placed at 50 cents for each male and 

 $1 for each additional dog, and $2 for each female dog, which shall procure 

 the fund from which damages shall be paid, not to exceed $3 for each lamb 

 and $5 for each sheep injured or killed, the remainder, if any, to go into the 

 school fund. A dog not on the assessment list, which may be wandering or 

 caught worrying sheep, may be killed. Persons paying taxes upon dogs are 

 deemed to have property therein, and may recover damages for theft of or in- 

 jury to such dogs. 



MARYLAND. 



In this State the owner of a dog proved guilty of killing or injuring sheep 

 is required, upon complaint and exhibition of proof, to kill such dog, in default 

 of which the owner of the sheep may kill him off the premises of his owner, 

 or require a constable to do so, wherever found. If the dog shall be killed 

 immediately by his' owner, the owner of the sheep injured can have no cause 

 of action ; if not thus killed, his owner is liable for double damages, with costs, 

 recoverable by an action of debt. 



OHIO. 



Several laws have been enacted to restrain dogs, none of which have been 

 very stringent or effective, or generally executed. The latest was pasised by 

 the general assembly in 1863, declaring it unlawful for any dog to run at 

 large off the premises of the owner in the night season, between the hours of 

 seven o'clock in the evening and six o'clock in the morning, unless accompanied 

 by the person owning or harboring the animal ; and the owner or keeper is 

 required to keep the dog upon his premises between those hours. It is of so 

 negative and incomplete a character as to be practically worthless. The only 

 real protection of an Ohio flock is a well-loaded gun in the hands of its owner. 



INDIANA. 



A license is required, at fifty cents for the first male dog, one dollar for each 

 additional dog, and one dollar in every case for a female dog. All unlicensed 

 dogs are declared nuisances that may lawfully be killed. Accruing funds are 

 set apart for the payment of damages suffered from injuries to sheep in the 

 several townships. The sufferer has his option of the folloAving remedies : 

 Within ten days after having knowledge of such depredations he may sub- 

 Btantiate it to the satisfaction of the township trustee, and draw the amount at 

 the end of the current year, or a. pro rata proportion if the fund is deficient; or 



