WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 671

of a kennel license being to relieve owners of dogs kept at a
kennel and never being allowed to run at large from the
necessity of taking out individual licenses for such dogs.

(c) The Board of County Commissioners shall have the
right to reduce the cost of any or each class of license fees
not to exceed fifty percent (50%) if, in the discretion of the
Board, such reduction is necessary and proper.

256C. (Penalties and Fines for Delinquent Licenses.) Any
license either individual or kennel that is not procured
before March 1st or within thirty days from the time
when by the provisions of this sub-title it is due and
payable shall have added to it as a penalty for such
delinquency an amount equal to 25% of the regular an-
nual fee for each month or fraction of a month of
such delinquency; and any person violating either by failing
or refusing to comply with any of the provisions of Section
256B shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
thereof before any justice of the peace of Anne Arundel Coun-
ty or in the Circuit Court of said County, shall be subjected
to a minimum fine of not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) and
not more than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) or shall be im-
prisoned in the. County Jail for not more than thirty days,
or shall be both fined and imprisoned in the discretion of
the Court. It shall be the duty of the State's Attorney, the
Sheriff, the County Police, and the Wardens of the County to
prosecute all persons found violating the law by failing or
refusing to comply with its provisions. Provided, however,
that the Board of County Commissioners shall have the right,
in their discretion, to extend the time for procuring licenses
until April 1st and no longer.

Payment of the license tax subsequent to the issuance
of a summons or warrant by a magistrate or other court for
failure to do so within the time required shall not operate
to relieve said owner from the penalties provided. Any dog
not wearing a license tag of the proper calendar year shall
prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed and in any proceed-
ings under this sub-title the burden of proof of the fact
that such a dog has been licensed, or is otherwise not re-
quired to wear a tag at the time, shall be on the owner
of said dog.

256J (a). (Destruction of and Reimbursement for Domestic
Animals.) Owners of property seeking compensation from the
County are charged with the duty of providing reasonable
care and protection for their animals and the requirements
of this section are to be construed strictly.