THE SHEEP-KILLING DOG. 15 



boards. Police juries are authorized to pass ordinances for the protection of 

 sheep and to impose fines and penalties as they deem proper. There is a heavy 

 fine or imprisonment or both for violating a police jury ordinance. A petition 

 signed by 50 taxpayers of any parish will force the police jury of that parish to 

 pass ordinances regulating dogs. Anyone may kill a sheep-killing dog. A dog 

 owner is liable to a sheep owner for 10 times the damages caused to sheep. 

 Persons knowingly keeping sheep-killing dogs are liable to a $25 fine or 30 days 



imprisonment or both. 



MAINE. 



1909. 



Tax assessors list all dogs. Owners must register same with the town clerk. 

 The tax is $1.15 for males and spayed females and $5.15 for-unspayed females; 

 kennel license $10.15. Dogs must at all times wear a collar showing the name 

 of owner and dog's registry number. All dogs not licensed are to be killed by 

 police officers. " Whenever any sheep, lambs, or other domestic animals owned 

 by a resident of this State are killed or injured by dogs, such owner may make 

 complaint thereof to the mayor of the city, or to one of the municipal officers of 

 the town or plantation where such damage was done, within seven days after 

 he has knowledge of the same, and thereupon the municipal officers shall investi- 

 gate the complaint and if satisfied that the said damage was committed by dogs 

 within the limits of their city, town, or plantation, they shall estimate the 

 damage thereof according to the full value and fifty per cent additional, for the 

 purpose for which they are kept, whether as breeders or for other purposes, and 

 direct that the same shall be paid from the town treasury." The town has right 

 of action against the dog'owner to recover the amount so paid out. Any person 

 who keeps a dog that kills or injures sheep or lambs is subject to fine of $50 to 

 $100 unless dog is killed before case is disposed of. If the dog owner is unknown 

 the State reimburses the owner. Any person may kill any dog caught chasing 

 sheep off the dog owner's land. 



MARYLAND. 



1912 and 1916. 



The State dog laws are applicable only to certain counties. The boards of 

 county commissioners are empowered to levy taxes at the rate of not less than 

 $1 for males and $2 for females, with the exception of Hartford County, where 

 a uniform tax of $1 may be levied. In Allegany County any person may kill 

 any dog found chasing or killing sheep, cattle, or poultry upon the lands of any 

 person other than the owner of the dog, or the dog may be killed if found un- 

 attended in an inclosure where sheep are kept, except on the farm of the dog 

 owner. No person has the right of action to recover the value of a dog so 

 killed. The county commissioners pay $10 to anyone identifying a sheep-killing 

 dog and the owner of the dog is notified to kill it. Failure to kill a dog after 

 being notified to do so subjects the owner to a fine. Montgomery County per- 

 mits the appointment of appraisers to estimate the damage done by dogs and 

 the county awards compensation to sheep owner. Owner of dog is held liable 

 if he is known. If a dog is known to kill animals or fowls any person may 

 kill the dog and dog owner has no recourse. 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



As amended 1917. 



Under the existing law male dogs and spayed females over 3 months of 

 age are taxed $2 and unspayed females $3. Each dog must wear a collar and 

 a license tag showing the name of the owner and the dog's registration number. 

 Any dog found out of the care of its owner and worrying, wounding, or killing 

 sheep on land owned by one other than the owner of the dog may be killed. 

 Cities and towns are empowered to offer rewards up to $25 for anyone killing 



