Pennsylvania Act 1935-96 — RABIES, DAMAGE PAYMENTS

Act text

RABIES, DAMAGE PAYMENTS
                  Act of May 22, 1935, P.L. 227, No. 96               Cl. 03
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for payment by the Commonwealth for loss of livestock
        heretofore sustained from rabies, where there is no proof of
        such livestock having been bitten by dogs.

        Whereas, Under the "Dog Law of one thousand nine hundred and
     twenty-one" uncertainty exists as to whether claims for loss of
     livestock from rabies may be paid, unless it can be shown that
     such livestock was actually bitten by a dog; and
        Whereas, Legislation is pending to remove said uncertainty
     and to make such claims payable in the future; and
        Whereas, There exists a number of such claims that have been
     proven to the satisfaction of the Department of Agriculture, but
     which the department is not satisfied that it has the authority
     to pay; therefore
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That whenever, heretofore,
     any person has sustained any loss of any livestock because of
     rabies, or any livestock of any person has been necessarily
     destroyed because of rabies, and such fact has been established
     to the satisfaction of a duly authorized agent of the Department
     of Agriculture, in the manner prescribed in the act, approved
     the eleventh day of May, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-
     one (Pamphlet Laws, five hundred twenty-two), known as the "Dog
     Law of one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one" and its
     amendments, the amount of the loss so sustained, as determined
     by such agent of the Department of Agriculture, upon the
     approval of the report of such agent by the Secretary of
     Agriculture, shall be paid by the Commonwealth, notwithstanding
     the fact, that it has not been proven in such cases, that the
     bite of a dog caused the rabies, and the Secretary of
     Agriculture shall immediately draw a requisition in favor of the
     claimant for the amount of the loss such claimant has sustained,
     according to the report of such agent, together with necessary
     and proper costs incurred. Such amount shall be paid from any
     appropriation to the Department of Agriculture available for the
     purpose of paying claims for loss or damage to livestock, or
     poultry, by dogs.