West Virginia Code § 19-20-18

Same -- Duty of owner to kill dog; proceeding before magistrate on
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failure of owner to kill.
The owner or keeper of a dog that has been worrying, wounding, chasing or killing any
sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or
poultry not the property of the owner or keeper, out of his enclosure, shall, within forty-eight
hours, after having received notice thereof in writing from a reliable and truestworthy source,
under oath, kill the dog or direct that the dog be killed. If the owner or keeper refuses to kill
the dog as hereinbefore provided, the magistrate, upon information, shrall summon the owner
or keeper of the dog, and, after receiving satisfactory proof that this dog did the mischief,
shall issue a warrant on application being made by the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats,
kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, or colts or poultry killed; and
give it into the hands of the sheriff, who shall kill the dog fortthwith or dispose of by other
available methods. The cost of the proceedings shall be paid by the owner or keeper of the
dog so killed, including a fee of 50¢ to the officer killing the dog. The owner or keeper of the
dog so killed shall, in addition to the costs, be liable to the owner of the sheep, lambs, goats,
kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or breeding rabbits, horses, colts or poultry or to the county
commission for the value of the sheep, lambs, goats, kids, calves, cattle, swine, show or
breeding rabbits, horses or colts or poultry so killed or injured.

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