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LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAPTER 463.

AN ACT for the better protection of sheep in Wi-

comico county.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem-

bly of Maryland, That hereafter it shall be unlaw-

ful for any dog to kill or wound any sheep in Wi-

comico county ; and if any owner of any sheep, his

or her tenant or agent, in said county, shall at any

time obtain any reliable information of any dog

Unlawful for
dogs to kill

having killed or wounded any sheep belonging to
said owner, or left in the care of said tenant or agent,
the said owner, tenant or agent, shall forthwith no-

sbeep.

tify, by the most convenient means, the owner, own-

ers or keeper of said dog, of the depredations so com-

mitted ; and if the owner, owners or keeper of said

dog shall refuse or fail to kill, or remove and keep

the same from said county, within ten days after

receiving said notice, then 'it shall be lawful for the

owner of said sheep, or the said tenant or agent, to

kill said dog at the first opportunity thereafter.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That in addition to the

provisions in the foregoing section of this act, the

owner, owners or keeper of said dog, shall be held

Owner held

responsible, in law for all losses or damages sustained

responsible.

by the owner of said sheep, in consequence of the

killing or wounding of the same as aforesaid, and

shall be liable to all legal proceedings for the collec-

tion of debts in this State, for the recovery of the

said damages.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the several justices

of the peace in Wicomico county be and they are

hereby authorized to try and determine all cases that

Justices to

may arise under this act, and to construe the pro-

try cases.

visions of this act liberally, so as to contribute as

much as possible to the protection of sheep in said

county.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That this act shall take

Effective.

effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 10, 1880.