ART. 67.] AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

711

12. The boards of county commissioners in the several counties
of this State are hereby empowered and directed to provide for the
annual taxation of all dogs therein, at a rate of not less than one
dollar for each dog, and two dollars for each bitch; provided, that
the tax in Talbot county and Harford county shall be one dollar on
either dogs or bitches.

1874, c 506, s 1.
County com-
missioners to
provide for
annual taxa-
tion of dogs

Rates of tax

13. The county commissioners of the respective counties of this
State shall, and they are hereby directed to divide their counties into
constabulary districts, in accordance with the number of constables

Id s 2
Counties to be
divided into
constabulary
districts

in each of said counties, and shall make it the duty of said consta-
bles, in each of said districts, to annually enumerate and assess, at a
rate prescribed by said boards of county commissioners, of not less
than one dollar for each dog, and two dollars for each hitch, in said
districts, and collect the tax levied upon the same, and pay the

Constables to
enumerate,
assess, and col-
lect tax

amount received by said collection into the county treasury, at such
times as may be fixed upon by the said boards of county commis-
sioners; and the official bond of any of said constables, failing to

Amounts col-
lected to be
paid into
county
treasury

account and make returns as aforesaid, shall be held liable for such
default, and all constables who shall faithfully account as herein re-
quired, may retain a commission of twenty-five per cent, on the
amount actually collected and paid into the county treasury; and
the net amount of such taxes, after payment of all charges, shall be

On failure to
return, bond
liable

Commission
allowed

applied to the credit of the school fund of the respective counties of
the State; provided, however, that every householder, either owner

Surplus to credit
of scbool fund

or renter, shall be entitled to keep one male dog free of taxation ;
but only one dog, however, shall be thus kept free of taxation, in or
about any house, irrespective of the number of families occupying
the same.

Householder
entitled to keep
one male dog
free of taxa-
tion

14. The board of county commissioners of each county in this
State shall furnish the constables of their respective counties metal
tags, bearing on their face the year for which the tax is paid, and
the sex of said dog, and, as far as possible, the tags for each year
shall have some characteristic shape or color, and shall be worn by
all dogs that are either taxed or exempted; and if any dog shall be

Id s 3
Commissioners
to furnish
metal tags

found going at large off the premises of the owner of said dog with-
out wearing such tag, it shall be the duty of the constables to kill
said dog, and for each dog, so killed, the constable killing the same
shall be allowed by the county commissioners of the respective
counties of this State, upon their being satisfied, by such proof as
they may demand of the killing of said dog, by said constable, fifty
cents for every dog so killed, being found going at large without
wearing the aforesaid tag; and any person may kill any dog, whether

Dogs at large,
without tag, to
be killed.

Constable's fee
for killing same.

taxed or exempted, which may be caught destroying or worrying
sheep, either on his own premises or those of another, for which

Dog destroying
sheep to be
killed

killing, the owner of said dog, so killed, shall be debarred from re-
ceiving any sum, in any court, as damages for such killing.

Owner not to
recover
damages

15. Any person who shall maliciously remove from any dog wear-

Id s 4
Fine for malici-