Private Acts of 1921 Chapter 866

SECTION 1. That any person or persons owning, controlling or harboring any dog or dogs that shall chase, maim, worry or kill any sheep, goats, hogs, cattle or other animals, shall be absolutely liable for all damages caused or done by his or their dog, or dogs, and such claim for damages may be enforced as any other claim for damages is enforced in this State. A lien is also hereby declared to exist on any dog or dogs that shall chase, worry, main or kill any sheep, goats, hogs, cattle or other animal and in favor of the owner of such animal so chased, worried, maimed or killed for all damages sustained; and such lien may be enforced by attachment or judgment and execution.

SECTION 2. That any dog that is known to have chased, worried, maimed or killed any sheep, hogs, cattle or other animals unless accompanied by his master, or some other person having reasonable control over him, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and may be killed by any person without civil or criminal liabilities therefor; and any person who shall own, keep, or harbor any dog after he knows that such dog has chased, worried, maimed, or killed any sheep, goats, hogs, cattle or other animal, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than ten dollars and not more than fifty dollars, by any Court having competent jurisdiction thereof.

SECTION 3. That it is hereby declared a misdemeanor for any person owning, controlling or harboring any female dog to permit such female dog to run at large during any period of rutting or when in heat, after he knows such dog to be in heat, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than Ten Dollars and not more than Fifty Dollars by any Court having competent jurisdiction thereof.

SECTION 4. That if any clause, section or part of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or unauthorized by law, by any court, such decision shall not effect the remaining clauses, sections and parts of this Act, but same shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. That this Act shall apply to and within all counties of the State of Tennessee which, according to the Federal Census of 1920 or any subsequent Federal Census, have a population of not less than 10,000 inhabitants and not more than 10,070 inhabitants, also a population of not less than 6,200 inhabitants and not more than 6,225 inhabitants.

SECTION 6. That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed, and that this Act take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed: April 9, 1921.