ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 563

amount of damages stated is unfair they shall award such
amounts as they may deem fair; provided, that before the
Commissioners shall make any award of damages for the
killing of said fowls or animals the person claiming damages
shall be required to prove to the satisfaction of the County
Commissioners that he does not know and is unable with
reasonable diligence, to ascertain the owner of the dogs which
did such damage, or if the said owner is known, to prove to
the satisfaction of said Commissioners, that it is impracticable
to collect the amount of damages sustained by suit against
the owner of said dogs; and provided further that before any
award of damages shall be paid under this section, the owner
of the fowls or animals destroyed or injured, shall within
twenty-four hours after such destruction or injury, notify
the Chief of Police of Montgomery County and acquaint him
with the damage done and the location of the remains or
carcasses of the fowls or animals so destroyed or injured.
Within twenty-four hours after receiving such notice, the

Chief of Police shall cause an inspection to be made by a
member of the Montgomery County Police Force, who shall
report his findings in writing to the Board of County Com-
missioners within forty-eight hours thereafter.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted,, That two new sections
be added to said Article to follow immediately after Section
197 thereof, and be designated as Sections 197-A and 197-B.
So that said Sections 197-A and 197-B shall read as follows:

Section 197-A. In case any dog shall be known to bite
any person, not a trespasser, or kill any domestic fowls or
animals, not trespassers, it shall be lawful for any person to
kill such dog if it be not immediately impounded by its owner
but in case such dog is immediately impounded by its owner
it shall be the duty of the owner to notify the Montgomery
County Police force who are directed to investigate the con-
dition of the dog so impounded and if the dog gives sufficient
evidence of being afflicted with the disease known as rabies,
the Montgomery County Police force is directed to destroy it.
And in case damage: to any person by reason of loss or injury
to his domestic fowls or animals shall be from dogs either his
own or kept upon his premises, he shall be entitled to no com-
pensation under this Act; and provided, further, that said

County Commissioners may allow the costs of appraisement
or such proportion thereof as in their discretion may seem rea-