It is a nuisance for any ferocious or mischievous dog to be at 

 arge and unmuzzled, and the owner may be indicted. 



An action may be maintained against a man for keeping a 

 dog accustomed to bite sheep ; if it can be proved that he has 

 ever bitten one before, it is deemed a sufficient proof of his being 

 accustomed so to do. Should the dog of one man fall upon that 

 of another, he is justified in using violence, even to the death 

 of the offending dog, if it appear probable that he could not 

 otherwise rescue his own dog. If any person take up a lost 

 dog, he must restore him on being demanded by the owner, or 

 an action in trover may be maintained against him, in which he 

 will be liable to damages and costs. 



The 10th of Geo. III. c. 18. enacts, that if any person shall 

 steal any dog, or dogs, of any kind whatsoever, from the owner, 

 or from any person entrusted by the owner with such dog or 

 dogs, or shall sell, buy, receive, harbour, detain, or keep any 

 such dog or dogs, knowing the same to be stolen, every such 

 offender, convicted on the oath of one witness, before two jus- 

 tices, shall for the first offence, forfeit a sum not exceeding thirty, 

 nor less than twenty pounds, at the discretion of such two justices ; 

 together also with the charges previous to and attending such 

 conviction, to be ascertained by the said justices. In case such 

 penalty be not immediately paid, such justices may commit the 

 offender to the house of correction, for a time not exceeding 

 twelve, nor less than six, calendar months ; or till the penalty 

 be paid. For a second offence, the offender shall forfeit a sum 



