COMPLETE DOG LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. 



The complete laws of the States of Pennsylvania and West Vir- 

 ginia are given as being examples of modern laws which really offer 

 protection to flockniasters. While the text of these laws will not be 

 suited to every State, their principles could be adopted to advantage. 



THE DOG LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



AN ACT relating to dogs, and the protection of live stock and poultry from damage by 

 dogs ; providing for the licensing of dogs ; regulating the keeping of dogs, and authoriz- 

 ing their destruction in certain cases ; providing for the protection of licensed dogs, and 

 for dogs temporarily imported for trial, show, and breeding purposes ; prescribing certain 

 privileges for hunting dogs, and dogs owned or used by the Board of Game Commission- 

 ers ; providing for the assessment of damages done by dogs, and payment thereof by the 

 proper county to the owners of live stock and poultry, and of damages to licensed dogs; 

 imposing powers and duties on certain State, county, city, borough, town, and township 

 officers and employees, and on city councils of cities of the first and second class ; and 

 providing penalties. 



SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That this act shall be known and may be cited 

 as the Dog Law of One Thousand Nine Hundred and Seventeen. 



SEC. 2. For the purpose of this act the following terms shall have the fol- 

 lowing meanings respectively designated for each : 



The term " live stock " shall include horses, stallions, colts, geldings, mares, 

 sheep, rams, lambs, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers, cows, calves, mules, jacks, 

 jennets, burros, goats, kids, and swine. 



The term " poultry " shall include all domestic fowl. 



The word " person " shall include State and local officers or employes, indi- 

 viduals, corporations, copartnerships, and associations. Singular words shall 

 include the plural. Masculine words shall include the feminine and neuter. 



The word " owner," when applied to the proprietorship of a dog, shall in- 

 clude every person having a right of property in such dog, and every person 

 who keeps or harbors such dog or has it in his care, and every person who 

 permits such dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by him. 



SEC. 3. The term " kennel " shall mean any establishment wherein or whereon 

 dogs are kept for the purpose of breeding, sale, or sporting purposes. 



The term " police officer " shall mean any person employed or elected by this 

 Commonwealth, or by any municipality, county, or township, and whose duty 

 it is to preserve peace or to make arrests or to enforce the law. The term 

 includes game, fish and forest-wardens. 



SEC. 4. On or before the fifteenth day of January, one thousand nine hundred 

 and eighteen, and on or before the fifteenth day of January of each year there- 

 after, the owner of any dog six months old or over shall apply to the county 

 treasurer, either orally or in writing, for a license for each such dog owned 

 or kept by him. Such application shall state the breed, sex, age, color, and 

 markings of such dog, and the name and address of the last previous owner; 

 and shall be accompanied by a fee of not less than one dollar, nor more than 

 two dollars, for each male dog and each spayed female dog ; and by a fee of not 

 less than two dollars, nor more than four dollars, for each unspayed female 

 dog. The license fee shall be determined by the commissioners of the several 

 counties of the State, and shall be the only license or tax required for the 

 ownership or keeping of said dog or dogs. 



SEC. 5. Such license shall be issued on a form prepared and supplied by the 

 county commissioners. Such license shall be dated and numbered, and shall 

 bear the name of the county issuing it and a descriptor of the dog licensed. 

 All licenses shall be void upon the fifteenth day of January of the following 

 year. The county commissioners shall also furnish, and the county treasurer 

 shall issue, with each license, a metal tag. Such tag shall be affixed to a sub- 

 stantial collar. The collar shall be furnished by the owner, and with the 



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