704 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 387

Justice of the Peace of said County, who shall appoint three
disinterested persons as appraisers to view and appraise the
damages by him sustained, and they or a majority of them
shall, under oath, state in writing to the County Commissioners
the number of fowls or animals so killed, the character and
extent of the injury, if any, and the amount of the damages
sustained by the owner; and in like manner they shall give
a general description of both the destroyed or injured fowls
or animals, and both the appraisers and the owner shall make
oath that they believe the same to have been destroyed or
injured by dogs, and they or either of them shall state under
oath the names of the owners of said dogs, and when the report
of such proceedings shall have been filed in the office of the
County Commissioners, the said Commissioners shall review
said report, and if in their judgment the amount of damages
stated is unfair they shall award such amount as they may
deem fair; provided, that before the Commissioners shall
make any award of damages for the killing or injuring of
said fowls or animals, the person claiming damages shall be
required to prove to the satisfaction of the County Commis-
sioners that he does not know and is unable with reasonable
diligence to ascertain the owner of the dog or 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 dog or dogs; and in case any dog shall be
known to kill any domestic fowls or animals, it shall be the
duty of the County Commissioners to notify such owner or
owners to kill said dog or dogs immediately. If such dog or
dogs be killed by the owner, after notice as aforesaid, he shall
be exempt from all further liability, but in case the said owner
or owners should refuse or neglect to kill said dog or dogs upon
notice as aforesaid, the said owner or owners shall be liable to
the County Commissioners for said damages to the same ex-
tent as he would be liable in case of negligence or malicious
destruction of property, and the said County Commissioners,
may in their discretion have the special officer or constable to
kill said dog or dogs; and provided further, that said County
Commissioners may allow payment for the treatment by the
Pasteur or other treatment, of any person who may be bitten
by a mad dog, cat, horse or other animal, and is unable to pay
for such treatment for himself or herself, out of the "Dog Fund
of Prince George's County, " if in the judgment of said County
Commissioners the circumstances justify said action.