672 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 384

(b) Whoever suffers loss by dogs on his own property by
the maiming or killing of his livestock or poultry, outside
the premises of the owners or keepers of such dogs, may, pro-
vided he acts within seventy-two hours from the date of his
knowledge of the occurrence, apply to any justice of the
peace in his district for the appointment of three disin rerested
persons, not being related or members of the family or house-
hold, as appraisers to view, if possible, and apprais.6 the dam-
ages by him claimed; and they, or a majority of them, under
oath, shall state in writing to the Board of County Commis-
sioners their reasons for believing that a dog did the damage,
the number of each kind of animal injured or killed, the char-
acter and extent of the injury done, the reasonable salvage
possible and the net amount of damages sustained by
the owners. The owner and the appraisers shall make
oath that they believe the damage was done by a dog and
when the claim so completed is filed with the said Board it
shall direct the Warden of the district to view the premises
and, if possible, the animals or carcasses, and investigate the
claim and its manner of proof, and determine, if possible,
the identity and ownership of the dog responsible for the loss
and report his findings and recommendations concerning the
same. If such identity and ownership is not known then the
Board shall review the claim and the report of the Warden
and shall determine the amount, if any, of damages to be
awarded and which shall be paid, and the Board's award shall
be final. No award or payment on any such claim shall be
made unless it is completed and filed with the clerk of said
Board within four days from the date of appointment of the
appraisers.

(c) If the owner of the dog is known, the Warden shall
direct him immediately to impound such dog until authorized
by the Board to release it and he, together with the claimant
sustaining the loss shall appear before the Board at their next
meeting after notice from the Warden and if after review
of the claim and the Warden's report on the same, the amount
of damages awarded by the Board to the claimant is acknowl-
edged and paid by the owner of the dog, the dog then shall
be released provided it is duly licensed at the time of the
killing, otherwise it must be surrendered to the Warden for
destruction unless otherwise directed by the Board.

(d) If the owner of said dog disputes the liability and
refuses to pay the same, the claimant shall be paid the amount
awarded and the Board then must file suit against the said
owner for the sum so paid and shall order his dog impounded
at his expense until the case is finally settled.