Sheep Killed by Dogs. 416 
SHEEP KILLED BY DOGS. 
We, as well as many of our neighbors, have suffered for the 
last few years, considerable losses by the depredations of dogs 
among our sheep. Last year we had several very valuable 
animals killed and wounded by a number of curs, the owners of 
which we never could ascertain, and the sheep were a total loss. 
In May last, our whole flock of South Downs and Cotswold sheep 
were attacked in the yard, by two dogs, and before discovered, two- 
thirds of them killed and the remainder badly wounded, which is 
about as bad as being killed, for we never had a sheep wounded 
by dogs that ever thrived well after. They are tender animals, and 
pme away and die. The lambs, wrth the exception of one, 
escaped. 
• It is not generally known, we believe, to farmers, that there is 
a remedy by law, to recover damages from the county, if the 
owner of the dog or dogs cannot be ascertained, or if irre- 
sponsible. For the benefit of those who may hereafter suffer 
from the depredation of dogs, we give the law which designates 
the manner of proceeding. It is as follows: 
" The owner of any sheep or lambs that may be killed or in- 
jured by any dog, may apply to any two fence-viewers of the 
town, (or to the assessor and commissioner of highways,) who 
shall inquire into the matter, and view the sheep injured or killed 
and may examine witnesses in relation thereto, for which purpose 
either of them shall have power to administer oaths. If they are 
satisfied that the same were killed or hurt only by doo-s, and in 
no other way, they shall certify such fact, the number of sheep 
killed or hurt, and the amount of the damages sustained thereby 
by the owner, together with the value of the sheep hurt or 
killed. 
" The Said certificate shall be presumptive evidence of the facts 
therein contained, in any suit that may be brought by the party 
injured against the owner or possessor of any dog, if it shall ap- 
pear on the trial of such suit, that due notice was given to the 
owner of the dog of the intended application of the fence-viewers, 
" If the party injured cannot discover the owner or possessor of 
the dog, by which such damage was done, or shall fail to recover 
the value of the sheep killed or injured, against such owner or pos- 
