Chap. 61.—An ACT for the Grctection of sheep in the county of
ulpeper.

Approved February 6, 1877. |

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
»it shall be the duty of the commissioners of the revenue for
‘the county of Culpeper, to take annually, at the time of list-

ing the taxable property therein, a list of all dogs, showing
whether male or female, with the name of the owner or per-
son in whose possession the same are found. The commis-
sioners shall require the owner or householder, or head of the
family, with whom, or on whose lot or plantation any dog

. or dogs may be found, to make oath or affirmation as to the
number of dogs such person may own or have, or as may be
kept on his lot, plantation or premises, whether owned by
him or her or not; and an accurate list of dogs shall be re-
turned to the clerk’s office, and a copy of said list to the

>county treasurer, at the time when said commissioners re-
turn their lists of taxable property: provided, that the com-
missioner shall not be required to list any dog under four
months of age: and provided further, that each householder
and head ot a family may keep one dog, which shall be
exempt from the provisions of this act. Any commissioner
failing herein, shall be subject to the same fines, penalties
and forfeitures which he would incur under existing laws for
neglect of any of his duties in listing and returning lists of
taxable property.

2. Every dog kept or staying about any house shall be
deemed sufficient evidence of ownership to authorize the
commissioner to return the person uccupying said house as
the owner of such dog; and every dug not returned, or if
returned and the tax herein authorized be not paid, shall be
deemed to have no owner, and may be lawfully killed by any
person seeing him run at large.

3. Upon complaint of any person to a justice of the peace,
that there is a dog kept or staymg about the premises of an
person that is not listed, but which ought to have been listed,
the justice shai] summon such person and the commissioner
of the revenue to appear before him, and shall hear and decide
the case; and if the complaint be found to be true, the com-
missioner shall thereupon list said dog; and if the owner shall
fail to pay the tax imposed by the next section, and the costs
of such complaint, within ten days thereafter, he or she shall
e fined two dollars and costs. In any case where the owner
fa dog is delinquent in payment of the tax on the same, or
oy fine arising trom a non-compliance with this act, it shall
e the duty of the commissioner of the revenue of the district
o kill said dog, for which he shall receive a fee of seventy-
ive cents out of the fund hereinafter provided; and to that
nd the commissioner shall obtain a list from the county
reasurer of all the delinquents in his district, and shall in
hirty days discharge his duty in this behalf; and on failure
o to do, where practicable, he shall be fined by any justice
f the peace in his district seventy-five cents for each dog he
0 fails to kill, and be responsible for any damage such dogs
nay do in consequence of his neglect.

4. When said commissioners of the revenue shall have
iscertained the number of dogs, they shall assess a license
‘ax of seventy-five cents per head on all male dogs, and on
every bitch or female dog one dollar and fifty cents shall be
asseased for the privilege of keeping the same; and said sums
co assessed shall be collected and accounted for by the county
treasurer as county levies are by law directed to be collected
and accounted for; and the treasurer shall keep a separate
account for the fund arising from the said tax and the fines
or penalties resulting from the execation of this act. The
said fand shall be appropriated first, to the payment of the
fees, charges, and other expenses incurred in enforcing this
act; second, for remunerating the owners of sheep in the said
county for any loss they may sustain by the killing or crip-
pling their sheep by dogs; third, for paying such premiums
as are bereinafter provided for; and fourth, the residue to be
applied to the support of the free schools of the county.

3d. It shall be the duty of any Justice of the peace in said
county, whenever any owner of sheep or his agent shall
make a declaration before him that his sheep have been killed
or severely wounded by dogs, to issue a summons to three
freeholders in the neighborhood, any two of whom may act,
who, being legally sworn, shall go forthwith on the premises
where such sheep may be, and examine into the facts and
Justice of the claim, and appraise the amount of damages
sustained by the owner, and return a certificate of the same
under their hands to the said owner or his agent, and a like
eertificate to the clerk of the county court, who shall present
it to the board of supervisors at their next meeting.

6. The board of supervisors shall allow, out of the fund
created by this act, a premium of one dollar for the scalp of a
gray tox, one dollar and fifty cents for the scalp of a red fox,
two dollars for the scalp of a wildcat, and ten dollars for the
scalp of a wolf, upon satisfactory evidence to the said board
that the same were caught and killed in the limits of the said
county. They shall have discretion to order the payment in
whole or in part of the claims for damages to sheep, accord-
ing to the amount of funds collected under this act, and the
equitable right of each application. They shall order the
payment of all fees and charges in enforcing this act, and
they shall also order the payment to the county school board
of any surplus which may remain of this fand. It shall be

the duty of the attorney for the commonwealth to be present

j

agricultural institute 8

and represent the interests of the county when claims under
this act are decided. |

7. All payments made by the treasurer, of funds created
by this act, shal] be on the order or warrant of the board of
supervisors, signed by the chairman and certified by the clerk
of the board.

8. The treasurer shall annually, at the yearly meeting of
the board of supervisors, make a settlement with said board
of his management of this fund, which settlement shall be
recorded by the clerk.

9. The fees of officers employed in the execution of this act
Shall be similar to those received for Jike services in other
cases; and where none are provided by law, the board of
supervisors shall make such compensation as they may deem
right; all of which sball be paid out of the aforesaid fund.

10. This act shall not effect sections five and six of chapter
one hundred and two of the Code of eighteen hundred and
seventy-three.

11. This act shall be in force from its passage.