16 FARMERS' BULLETIN 935. 



a dog which is found harrassing or killing sheep. Damages are appraised and 

 paid for by the county. In 1917 a provision was added whereby persons who 

 obtained dog licenses promise to restrain the dog from "killing, chasing, or 

 harassing " sheep. Dissatisfaction with the existing statutes led the 1917 legis- 

 lature to adopt a resolution whereby a commission is to be appointed to inquire 

 into the advisability of amending or supplementing the existing laws. The 

 commission's report is to be ready in January, 1918. 



MICHIGAN. 



As amended 1917. 



Owners of dogs over 4 months old must secure from the clerk of the 

 village "or township a metal registration tag and law provides that said tag 

 shall be " securely fastened to the collar of the dog and constantly worn by 

 such dog." Males and spayed females are taxed $2 and unspayed females $5. 

 County assessors are also required to list the dogs in each county. Sheriff 

 shall kill dogs for which tax is not paid. Damages to live stock are ap- 

 praised by a local justice of the peace, who gives a certificate stipulating 

 the amount of the damages to the local clerk of the township or village. The 

 clerk then issues an order, payable to the stock owner, drawn on the treas- 

 urer of the township or village. Surplus funds at the end of the year go to 

 the school fund. " Nothing in this act contained shall be construed as limiting 

 the common-law liability of the owner of a dog for damage committed by it." 

 Act does not apply to cities already having ordinances providing for the dis- 

 position of fees derived from dog taxes. 



MINNESOTA. 



As amended 1915. 



Village councils are empowered to license dogs and to restrain them from 

 running at large. Dog owners are liable to owners of domestic animals for 

 damages done by their dogs, even though dog owners are unaware of the dogs' 

 bad habits. Persons knowingly keeping a dog which has bitten any domestic 

 animal are liable to a fine of $5 a day for every day that the dog is kept on 

 such person's premises thereafter. Any dog found injuring or worrying sheep 

 may be killed by anyone and " any owner of sheep may kill any dog found on 

 his premises where sheep are kept, if not under the restraint or control of his 

 owner or other person." 



MISSISSIPPI. 



Enacted 1910. 



The board of supervisors of each county is empowered to tax dogs 6 

 months old or more. If the dog tax is adopted in a county the rate is to 

 be $1 for males and $3 for females. The dogs are recorded by the tax assessor 

 and the taxes collected are used for the repair and improvement of public 

 schoolhouses. All dogs in counties requiring a license must wear a collar 

 bearing the name of the owner. If the board of supervisors refuses to levy 

 the tax, a petition from 20 per cent of the qualified electors of the county will 

 grant the people in that county a special election on the subject. When any 

 county levies a tax it must be levied each year thereafter unless voted down 

 in the foregoing manner. In counties requiring the license any person may kill 

 any dog found at large without a collar and license tag, and the dog owner 

 has no right of action. 



MISSOURI. 



Revised Statutes of 1909. 



Municipalities are empowered to tax dogs at their discretion. If sheep 

 or other domestic animals are killed by dogs the owner of the stock so lost 

 may recover against the owner of the dog the full amount of the damages 



