Chap. 198.—An ACT for the Protection of Sheep in the County of
kingham.

Approved March 15, 1875. .

1. Bo it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That it shall be the duty of the assessors for the county of
Rockingham to take, annually, at the time of listing the tax-
able property therein, a list of all dogs, showing whether
male or female, with the name of the owner or person in
whose possession the same are found, upon the oath or affirma-
tion of the owner or housekeeper, or head of the family, with
whom or on whose lot or plantation any dog or dogs may be
found, as to the number of dogs such person may own or
have, or as may be on his lot, plantation or premises, whe-
ther owned by him (or her) or not, and shall return such list
of dogs to the clerk’s office of said county, at the time when
he returns his list of taxable property, under the like fines,
penalties, and forfeitures as are now incurred by him for neg-
ect of any similar duties, under existing laws, as to his duties
in listing and returning lists of taxable property.

2. That every dog staying about any house, shall be deemed
sufficient evidence of ownership to authorize the assessor to
return the person inhabiting said house as the owner of such
dog; and every dog not returned, or if returned and the tax
be not paid thereon, 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 staying about the premises of any
person that is not listed, the justice shall summon such per-
son and the assessor to appear before him, who shall hear
and decide the case; and if the complaint be found to be true,
the assessor shall thereupon list said dog; and if the owner
fail to pay the tax thereon and the costs thereby incurred
within ten days thereafter, he sBall be fined two dollars and
costs—one-half of said fine to go to the informer. In any
case where the owner of a dog is delinquent in the payment of
the tax on the same, or any fine arising from a non-compli-
ance with this act, it shall be the duty of the constable of
the district to kill said dog, for which he shall receive a fee
of one dollar from the party delinquent, and to that end the
constable shall obtain a list of all the delinquents in his dis-
trict, and shall, within thirty days, discharge his duty in this
behalf; and on failure so to do, he shall be fined by the jus-
tices of his district one dollar for each dog, and be responsi-
ble for any damage they may do in consequence of his neglect.

4, That when said assessors shall have ascertained the

number of dogs, they shall assess a license tax of seventy-five
cents per head on all male dogs, and spayed female dogs, and

‘on every slut or female dog two dollars shdll be assessed ;
and said sumis so assessed shall be collected, or caused to be
collected, and accounted for by the county treasurer as
county levies are by law directed to be collected and ac-
counted for; and the treasurer shall keep a separate account
of the fund arising from said tax, and the fines or penalties
resulting from the execution of this act. The said fund shall

-be, and is hereby appropriated tor remunerating the inhab-
itants of said county for any loss they may sustain from dogs
killing or crippling their sheep, and for paying any expense
in enforcing this act not otherwise provided for, and for pay-
ing such premiums as may be hercinafter provided; and the
residue, if any, shall be applied to county expenses.

5. That it shall be the duty of any justice of the peace in
said county, on an application of the owner of sheep, or his
agent, which have been killed or severely wounded by dogs,
since the passage of this act, to issue a summons to three dis-
creet housekeepers, who, being legally sworn, shall go forth-
with 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 an accurate
statement of the same under their hands to a justice; who,
if he approve the return, shall so endorse the same; but it
not, shall endorse his disapproval and his reasons for the
same, and forward all the papers to the clerk of said county,
who shall receive the same and present them to the board
of supervisors of said county at their next meeting.

6. The board of supervisors shall allow out of the fund

“created by this act a premium of seventy-five cents for the
scalp of a grey fox; one dollar and fifty cents for the scalp
of a red fox, and five dollars for the scalp of a wolf. They
shall also bave discretion to order the payment, in whole or
in part, the claims or damages to sheep, subject to tho
amount of funds collected under this act, and the legal and
equitable right of each application. It shall be the duty of
the attorney for the commonwealth to be present and repre-
sent the interests of the county when these claims are decided.

7. All payments made by the treastrer out of funds created
by this act, shall be on the osder of the board of supervisors,
certified by the county clerk.

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 like service; and
where none are prescribed by law, the board of supervisors
shall make such proper compensation; all of which shall 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 ita passage.