The New York State Dog Law 
Drastic Regulation of the Dog 
W E have had many letters about the new dog 
law which went into effect on July 1. The 
following letter brings up a new point: 
Last Sunday two dogs got in with our young stock, 
and killed 115 pullets and cockerels. These were all 
late March and early April hatched, and the pullets 
would have been laying in six weeks or two months. 
M e have not been able to find the owners of the dogs, 
but think that they belong to two families who have 
no property, and who, in fact, have often been helped by 
the town. Can you tell me whether the town is liable in 
sucb a case, or shall we simply be obliged to stand the 
loss? I have never before heard of dogs doing such 
wholesale damage to chickens, and Avant to know if 
there is any way that Ave can safeguard the rest of 
the amount of damages caused by the injury of such 
animals ^or foAvls, and if the damage suft'ered amounts 
to five dollars or more there shall be added thereto the 
sum of ten dollars as liquidated damages for the injury 
caused by such dog. If sheep are attacked, chased or 
AA’orried, the amount of damages to be recovered shall 
be as above provided, and there shall be added to the 
amount of such damages the sum of two dollars for ewe, 
of the age of one year or upwards, in the flock attacked, 
chased or worried by such dog. 
STATE AaTHORITIES IN CHARGE.—The own¬ 
er of such animals or fowls killed or worried by 
dogs may, Avithin CO days, present his claim to the 
Commissioner of Agriculture at Albany, The Com¬ 
missioner will send a form on which the claim is 
properly made out. The Commissioner or his agent 
then makes an investigation. If he is satisfied the 
claim is just, he issues a certificate for the amount. 
Avould have a chance to recover damages for the 
fright given his flock! 
LICENSES.—EA’ery person who “owns, harbors 
or keeps” a dog must pay .$2 for each male or .$.3 for 
each female or .$20 for a kennel of purebred dogs— 
or $2 for each dog kept in such kennel (not in excess 
of $20). There is also a fee of 25 cents for registra¬ 
tion paid to the toAvn clerk. Such license expires on 
the last day of February of each year. Dogs are 
of license age at four months and at six months 
Avhen bred by the owner. There are special licenses 
for kennels. 
DOG LISTS.—^The assessors in towns or the city 
police must prepare during each June a full list of 
all dogs and their owners. One copy of such list 
Farming “Somewhere in France,” as Seen by an American Soldier. Fig. 453 
our stock, short of building a dog-proof fence. As our 
young .stock are on free range in a 15-acre lot, it would 
be very expensive to try to fence it in. 
I have wondered, if we were to purchase a dog, if it 
could be trained to protect our chickens from other 
dogs, as well as thieves. If so, what breed is considered 
best for chickens, and could you give me any suggestions 
as to the training to give a watch-dog for chickens? 
CLARA AV. HASTINGS. 
THE NEW LAW.—^The ncAV dog laAv is knoAvn as 
Chap. 800. It became a law June 9, 1917, and took 
effect on July 1. The following section covers the 
question of damage, and, as we see It, covers “do¬ 
mestic animals and fowls”: 
_ The owner of a dog which shall attack, chase, worry, 
injure or kill domestic animals or foAvls, shall be liable 
tor the damages caused thereby, to be recovered as 
lierein provided, for the benefit of the owner of such 
Oomestic animals or fowls. Such damages shall equal 
the value of the animals or fowls killed, or, if not killed. 
Avhich Avill be paid by the State Treasurer on the 
AA’arrant of the Comptroller. This certificate must 
be presented for payment Avithin six months. In the 
case of Mrs. Hastings a form was obtained from 
the Commissioner and made out as required. 
A FRIGHTENED FLOCK.—^There will be some 
nice ijoints to settle under this law. Here is a case 
not uncommon: 
I keep sheep and raise young cattle, and last night 
was up from midnight until 2.30 a. m., looking after my 
flock, that had been seared by a “licensed” hound dog 
running a “jack” through their pasture lot. He made 
no attempt to molest the sheep or lambs, yet the ewes 
and their lambs, that were but a week or so dropped, 
were scared by his baying so close to them. It was 
moonlight enough for me to recognize the dog when he 
passed within 10 feet of me. p. r. c. 
We should say that under the law this farmer 
remains in the town and another goes to the Com¬ 
missioner at Albany, The asse.ssors receh^e 20 cents 
for each dog listed by them. Failure on the part of 
a dog owner to obtain a license Avithin 30 days 
after he is required to do so subjects him to a pen¬ 
alty of $10, 
DOG TAGS.—^When a license is issued the town 
or city clerk delivers to the dog owner a metal tag 
Avhich is furnished by the Agricultural Commission¬ 
er. Each licensed dog must wear a collar and have 
this tag attached to it. A full registry Is kept so 
that all licenses, tags and descriptions may be iden¬ 
tified. Should the tag be lost a neAV one may be ob¬ 
tained on proof of such loss. 
UNLICENSED DOGS,—A dog with no State tag 
on his collar is regarded as unlicen.sed. No action 
