THE SHEEP-KILLING DOG. 9 



Some of the State laws provide for the payment of damages only 

 once a year and for prorating the damages if the dog fund is insuffi- 

 cient to allow for full compensation. The danger of having to pro- 

 rate the amount paid out can be partially eliminated by increasing 

 the dog-tax fund. 



Possibly the most important consideration to bear in mind in 

 drawing up a good dog law is to have a law that will command the 

 moral support of the people. A poor law well enforced may be more 

 protection to a sheep owner than a good law the enforcement of 

 which is ignored by the people. A law must have behind it the will 

 of the people if it is to be enforced by the authorities. 



The ideal law is one which makes prevention of damage the major 

 consideration rather than compensation for damage already sus- 

 tained. Cooperation by the people and the publishing and distribu- 

 tion of copies of the law can be made of great benefit. Ignorance of 

 such laws as do exist is often accountable for the little attention paid 

 them. 



UNIFORM STATE DOG LAWS. 



It is believed that similar laws for all States, so enacted and en- 

 forced as to prevent damage to flocks by controlling and limiting the 

 number of dogs and at the same time allowing the farmer greater 

 leeway in protecting his flocks, will go far toward encouraging sheep 

 raising and bring about a proportional increase in the number of 

 sheep. With this in view an outline for a suggested dog law, com- 

 bining parts of various State laws with some added features calcu- 

 lated to give the sheep owner the benefit in cases where proof of facts 

 is difficult, is here presented. This is not the text of a complete dog 

 law that will fit conditions in all States, but is intended as a sugges- 

 tion which may be helpful in the preparation of future State dog 

 laws. 



OUTLINE FOR A SUGGESTED STATE DOG LAW. 



1. All dogs over six months old to be listed by the county tax assessor at 

 the time of listing other taxable property. (A more complete list of dog own- 

 ers is obtained in this way than is the case when the dog owners are required 

 to list their dogs.) 



Tax to be as follows : 



One male or spayed female $2 



Each additional male or spayed female 3 



Each unspayed female : 5 



Kennel licenses to be issued with restrictions. 



2. Dog owners to pay their dog: tax and obtain a dog license at the same time 

 other taxes are paid, unless proof is furnished that the dog has been disposed of. 



3. Counties to furnish metal tags bearing the registration number of the 

 dog and the name of the dog's owner. (This would eliminate any question 

 arising as to the owner of a dog found at large or in the act of worrying stock. ) 



4. Provide for the impounding and, after a reasonable term of impound- 

 ment, the humane destruction of dogs found at large without collars bearing 

 license tags. 



5. All dogs to be confined from sunset to sunrise unless under leash or un- 

 der reasonable control of their owners. 



33755 18 Bull. 935 2 



