Monday, May 26, 2008

Dog Ordinance, 100 Years Ago

I enjoy reading the "Montana Album" in every Sunday's Tribune. It includes tidbits of goings-on in the community and surrounding areas from 25, 50 and 100 years ago. In yesterday's paper was a timely tidbit from 100 years ago:

The dog question was brought up before the City Council by Alderman Bottomley, who was opposed to the principle of taxing dogs highly as a cure for the dog nuisance.

This brought out the reading of the proposed dog ordinance which was something of a corker. It provided a license of $5 for males and $20 for females. Also for putting of muzzles on all dogs running at large whenever the mayor issued a proclamation to that effect, also forbidding the keeping of dogs who howled or barked so as to disturb neighbors; also forbids trespass of dogs on other people's property or damages done by them; the penalty on the dog for violation of these provisions to be death in 24 hours; all impounded dogs to be sold in 48 hours for not less than $2, plus license due, or execution without benefit of clergy.

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