If the dog is property, he may be taxed; if not, any one may kill him without hindrance.

 

SHEEP KILLED BY DOGS

Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the Year 1865. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866. page 73.


The slaughter still goes on, and the useless cur is not even taxed. While all cattle, ewine, sheep, and all other animals are sought out by the United States revenue assessors, the dog (which is taxed an equivalent of three dollars in Great Britain, where it is the source of much revenue) is still on the free list. If the dog is property, he may be taxed; if not, any one may kill him without
hindrance.

Efforts have been made to get at least partial return of losses of sheep by these canine nuisances throughout the country. In the monthly circulars of the department inquiries have been placed, and returns from many counties have been received, exclusive of the southern States and of the Pacific States and Territories.

A few of the heavier losses of sheep by dogs (the killed only) in several States are given as follows: Maine: York county, 312 killed. Vermont: Rutland county, 450 killed. Massachusetts: Franklin county, 300 killed. Rhode Island: Hartford county, 294 killed. New York: Steuben county, 605 killed; Tioga county, 450 killed; Genesee county, 500 killed; Chatauque county, 575 killed;  Otsego county, 400 killed. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia county, 1,500 killed; Butler county, 350 killed; Erie county, 300 killed. Ohio: Clark county, 627 killed; Champaign county, 540 killed; Fairfield county, 651 killed;  Brown county, 619 killed; Coshocton county, 584 killed. West Virginia: Monongalia county, 500 killed; Putnam county, 300 killed. Maryland: Cecil county, 309 killed. Michigan: Ionia county, 1,000 killed; Wayne county, 450 killed. Indiana: Ripley county, 700 killed; Putnam county, 500 killed; Marion county, 500 killed; Daviess county, 500 killed. Kentucky: Boone county, 3,000 killed; Breckinridge county, 586 killed; Warren county 500 killed. Illinois: Brown county, 600 killed; Case county, 2,000 killed; Scott county, 750 killed; Macón county, 1,500 killed. Iowa: Lucas county, 1,200 killed;  Mahaska county, 865 killed; Davis county, 600 killed; Page county 1,094 killed. Wisconsin: Milwaukie county, 654 killed; Pond du Lac county, 381 killed. Missouri: Cooper county, 400 killed; Miller county, 550 killed; Marion county, 1,520 killed; Cedar county, 500 killed; Hickory county, 1,000 killed; Clark county, 500 killed; Lewis county, 500 killed. In thirty counties in Missouri 7,911 are reported killed. Kansas: Doniphan county, 1,300 killed.