HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 445

who, at the time such was sustained, was committing a trespass
or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog.
A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner
within the meaning of this Act when he is on such property
in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws
of the State of Maryland, Acts relating to Anne Arundel
County or postal regulations of the United States of America,
or when he is on such property upon the invitation, expressed
or implied, of the owner thereof.

The owner of any livestock or poultry injured or killed by
any dog may recover as liquidated damages from the owner
of such dog, devoid of proper legal defenses, twice the actual
value of the animals killed or twice the value of damages sus-
tained by reason of said injuries as the case may be. If two
or more dogs kept by two or more owners or keepers injure or
kill any livestock or poultry at the same time, the owners or
keepers of such dogs are jointly and severally liable for such
damage.

256-O. Nuisance of Vicious, Chasing or Barking Dog. If
any person shall make complaint in writing and swear to the
same before a justice of the peace in his district that any
dog owned or harbored within his jurisdiction is a menace by
reason of vicious disposition or a nuisance or hazard as evi-
denced by chasing persons, draft animals, vehicles or by such
whining or barking as to constitute an annoyance to persons
residing in the neighborhood, such justice of the peace shall
direct the Warden or a peace officer to investigate the com-
plaint including an examination of the complaint and to report
his findings to the said justice of the peace who thereupon may
call the owner of the dog complained of before him for ques-
tioning and may make such order concerning the restraint of
such dog as he may deem to be necessary. Any time within ten
ten days after such order the owner or keeper of such dog may
bring a petition in the Circuit Court within the judicial dis-
trict of which the dog is owned or kept, addressed to the justice
of the court, praying that the order may be reviewed by the
Court, and after such notice to the Warden or other officer in-
volved as the Court may deem necessary, it shall review such
action, hear the witnesses and affirm such order unless it shall
appear that it was made without proper cause or in bad faith,
in which case such order shall be reversed with costs against
the complainant. The decision of the Court shall be final and
conclusive upon the parties.

Any person owning or harboring such dog who shall fail to
comply with any order of the justice of the peace or Circuit
Court, as the case may be, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than Ten Dollars ($10. 00) or by imprisonment for not
more than thirty days or both. Provided, however, that this