462 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



he may recover by suit full damages from tlie owner of tlie dog. A fiue of 

 from five to fifty dollars and liability to damages, recoverable by the owner, 

 are the penalties for killing licensed dogs that maintain a fair canine character. 

 The Secretary of the Board of Agriculture reports that the law is so defec- 

 tive that it virtually amounts to nothing, 



MICHIGAN. 



A law approved March 29, 1850, autliorizes the destruction of dogs attacking 

 any kind of domestic animals except on the premises of the owner of the dog, 

 and such owner is liable for double the amount of damages done by the dog. 

 When notified of such damage, neglect of the owner to kill the dog is punish- 

 able by a fine of §3, and $1 50 additional for every forty-eight hours 

 thereafter until such dog shall be killed. Supervisors, upon complaint of a 

 citizen, verified by his oath, are required to prosecute and recover the fines 

 imposed by this act. 



An act was passed March 20, 18G3, requiring township assessors to ascertain 

 the number of dogs liable to be taxed and the names of their owners ; and if 

 such owners refuse for ten days after demand to pay the taxes assessed, it be- 

 comes lawful to kill the dogs so taxed. 



WISCONSIN. 



By the law of 1860 dogs are required to be numbered, collared, registered, 

 and licensed on payment of one dollar for males and three dollars for females; 

 and police officers, constables, and marshals are required to kill and bury all 

 unregistered dogs, and to receive twenty-five cents for such service. A person 

 may be fined fifty dollars for removing a collar. Persons suffering loss from 

 dogs are paid full damages at the first of April if the tax fund is sufiicient ; if 

 not, fro rata; and the owner of the dog is liable to the town for the full 

 amount. The fine for keeping unregistered dogs is five dollars. Officers neg- 

 lecting or refusing to obey the law are fined $20 for every twenty-four hours 

 of such neglect. Towns may increase the license not more than one dollar, 

 and the penalty not more than ten. 



MINNESOTA. 



The following is an epitome of the law of March, 1863, which repeals pre- 

 vious enactments on the subject : 



Every owner or keeper of a dog shall cause such dog to be registered, numbered, de- 

 scribed, and licensed, paying one dollar for each male and two dollars for each female. The 

 township or city clerk shall conspicuously post a list of all licensed dogs, and furnish one to 

 constables and chief of police. Failure to license shall make one liable to a penalty of ten 

 dollars. Stealing or poisoning a dog is punishable by fine not exceeding iifty dollars, and 

 killing subjects to liability for damages double the value of the dog. Constables and police 

 officers shall, and any person may, kill any unlicensed dog ; any one may also kill a dog 

 assaulting him, or worrying sheep out of the enclosure of his owner. Within thirty days 

 after suffering injury or loss of sheep by dogs, proof of damage may be presented to the county 

 auditor, who may draw an order upon the treasurer, payable from the fund accming from 

 taxes of dogs, when the city or town may sue and recover full damages from the owner of the 

 dog. It is made the duty of the mayor and aldermen of cities, and the supervisors of towns, 

 to require the destruction of unlicensed dogs, and officers refusing or neglecting to perform 

 these duties arc liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars for the benefit of schools. All of these 

 penalties may be recovered, on complaint by any householder, before any justice of the peace 

 of the county. Money remaining after the yearly payments from the tax fund is turned over 

 to the school fund. 



IOWA. 



A law was passed in 1862 by the Iowa legislature for the protection of shwp 

 against the ravages of dogs. At the following session, called with refei-ence to 

 l^islation in the interest of the soldiers, the law was repealed in utter disre- 



