Chap. 478.—An ACT for the protection of sheep in the counties of Northumber-
land, Westmoreland and Rappahannock, by making owner, &c., of dog killing

maiming, or worrying sheep, liable for damages not exceeding assessed value of
sheep.

Approved February 24, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That when any
inhabitant of the county of Northumberland or of the county of West-
moreland or of the county of Rappahannock, shall have any sheep
killed, maimed, or worried by any dog, the owner or other person, in
Whose possession or under whose control the said dog is at the time of
such killing, maiming, or worrying, or about whose house the said dog
usually stays, shall be liable, jointly and severally, to pay the owner of

said sheep so killed, maimed or worried, damages therefor to be re-
covered by the usual legal remedies: srovided, however, that the
said damages shall not exceed the assessed value of the said sheep.

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