J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      723

194.

(i)   (1) The County Commissioners of Washington County are
authorized and empowered by rule, regulation or resolution to pro-
vide that owners of dogs in the county shall not permit the dog,
whether licensed or unlicensed, to run at large off the premises of the
owner, except when it is under the control of the owner or an author-
ized agent of the owner by leash, cord or chain, provided that the
following dogs may be permitted to run at large when accompanied
by the owner or an authorized agent and when kept within sight or
calling distance:

1.  Dogs proved to be obedient, in accordance with any regulation
or resolution of the county commissioners,

2.  Dogs being used for hunting, or trained for hunting, and

3.  Dogs being accompanied by the owner on horseback.

(2)   The County Commissioners by rule, regulation or resolution
may provide for investigation of reports of violations of paragraph
(a) and for enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.

(3)   Any owner failing to comply with the provisions of this sec-
tion shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be subject to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for each offense.

197.

All monies arising from the dog licenses or taxes shall be kept in a
separate fund by the treasurer of the respective counties, or tax
collecting office thereof, and shall be used for the payment of dam-
ages for the injury and killing of sheep, poultry or other livestock
in said respective counties. In the event the same are not sufficient
for the payment of all such damages the said damages shall be paid
in the order the claims are presented, and any person or persons
whose claims are not paid in any one year by reason of the lack of
money to the credit of the said fund, which is to be designated "the
dog license fund," shall be paid out of the first money coming into
the fund after his claim is reached, and shall be paid in the order in
which said claims are proved and filed; and any claims now filed and
passed upon, but remaining unpaid, shall have preference over any
new claims in the order of payment. The county commissioners of
the several counties are hereby authorized to expend any funds in
excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) remaining in the hands of
the treasurer or the tax collecting officer after the payment of the
claims as aforesaid, for any public purpose which, in their judgment,
may seem right and proper, and are further empowered, whenever
in their judgment it may become necessary to do so, to enter into a
contract or agreement with such persons, association of persons or
corporations as they may deem suitable, for the removal, care and
disposition of unlicensed dogs, or licensed dogs which may create a
menace to the safety, security and property of the residents of said
counties, on such terms and conditions and for such compensation as
may be agreed to by the said county commissioners and such persons,
association of persons or corporations. In Harford County the Coun-
ty Commissioners are authorized to utilize one half of the "dog license
fund" each year to defray in whole or in part the enforcement of the