If Your Dog Is Running Loose in Hickory, It Will Be Shot and Killed, Jan. 27, 1919

From The Hickory Daily Record, Jan. 27, 1919. Before dogs were vaccinated to protect against rabies.

Will Kill Dogs Running at Large

The Record was requested to serve notice on dog owners today that beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m. every dog found running at large within the corporate limits of Hickory will be shot dead.

This action was decided upon because of the unusually large number of mad dogs that have appeared in the city and community within the past several weeks. More than six animals, most of them mad, have been killed, one Saturday night and another yesterday afternoon.

Owners of dogs of course are aware that if their animals bite and injure a child or adult, damage may be collected. Even those dogs on which taxes are paid will not exempt their owners from damaged—assuming that the dogs are not killed when they appear on the streets.

Every dog should be kept at home until the danger from rabies is over.