604                                  LAWS OF MARYLAND                           [CH. 347

time, the owners or keepers of such dogs are jointly and severally
liable for such damage.

200G. (Damaged Party Choice of Remedies.) The owner of
livestock or poultry which has been maimed or killed by a dog shall
have his election to proceed under Section 200E, or under Section
200F, but having signified his election by starting proceedings in
either mode, he shall not have other remedy.

Any Warden or other person who has reason to believe that any
dog has been worrying, wounding or killing livestock but which has
not been found in the act, may apply to a trial magistrate of the
district in which such dog may be, who shall issue a warrant requir-
ing the owner or custodian, if known, to appear before him at a time
and, place named therein, at which time evidence shall be heard, and
if it shall appear that such a dog is a livestock or poultry killer, or
has committed any of the depredations mentioned in this section,
the dog shall be ordered surrendered to the Dog License Commission
or its designated representative to be destroyed in the most humane
manner possible. Provided however, that any such dog either known
to be or suspected as a killer shall be alloived to remain in its owner's
possession upon his posting a bond or surety acceptable to the Dog
License Commission in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200.00)
as a guarantee to the Commission for the payment of any further
claims filed as a consequence of damages caused or participated in
by said dog.

200H. (Nuisance of Vicious, Chasing or Barking Dog.) If any
person shall make complaint in writing and swear to the same before
a trial magistrate 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 evidenced by chasing persons, draft ani-
mals, vehicles or by such whining or barking as to constitute an
annoyance to persons residing in the neighborhood, such trial magis-
trate shall require the Dog License Commission to investigate the
complaint and said Commission thereupon may call the owner of the
dog complained of before it for questioning and may make such
order concerning the restraint of such dog as said Commission may
deem to be necessary. Any time within ten days after such order
the owner or keeper of such dog may bring a petition in the Circuit
Court of Baltimore County praying that the order may be reviewed
by the Court, and after such notice to the Dog License Commission
such other officer involved as the Court may deem necessary, 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
petitioner. The decision of the Court shall be final and conclusive
upon the parties.

Any person owning or harboring such a dog who shall fail to
comply with any order of the Dog License Commission or the Circuit
Court, as the case may be, shall be punished by the Court by a fine of
not less than ten dollars ($10.00) or by imprisonment for not more
than thirty days or both. Provided, however, that this section shall
not apply to dogs kept at a duly established and operated shelter or
public pound.

200-I. (Authority to Kill Vicious Dog.) If a dog which the Dog
License Commission or, upon review, the Circuit Court shall have