Animals often appear in archival records where you would least expect them to. An example of this is municipal by-laws. Historically, due to rabies outbreaks spreading between stray and feral dogs, by-laws were established in Oxford County to restrain and regulate dogs running loose to prevent the endangerment of people and property. Municipal by-laws were also established for the appointment of officers including the “pound keeper” and “evaluator of sheep”. Many municipalities also passed a “dog tax” by-law to protect poultry from being killed by loose dogs. For example, in 1954 in West Zorra Township, a by-law was passed providing that if any poultry were killed by a dog, a tax of fifty pounds (around $83) or more per bird had to be paid by the owner of the dog. Historically, wild foxes appear to have been an issue in Oxford County. We have a number of fox bounties in our records from various townships throughout the county during a period when foxes were considered pests. Hunters and farmers could hunt foxes and receive a monetary bounty reward in return. This was meant to reduce the population of foxes in the county.

Check out some of the municipal by-laws, bounties, and taxes related to animals below.

Blenheim By-law 993: appointment of pound keepers, sheep evaluators, and stock inspectors, 1935, pg. 1

Blenheim By-law 993: appointment of pound keepers, sheep evaluators, and stock inspectors, 1935, pg. 2

East Nissouri By-law 12: Enforcement of dogs being secured for 2 months due to a rabies outbreak near Thamesford, 1912, pg. 1

East Nissouri By-law 12: Enforcement of dogs being secured for 2 months due to a rabies outbreak near Thamesford, 1912, pg. 2

West Zorra By-law 31954: A by-law to provide that the provisions of the Dog Tax and Live Stock and Protection Act shall apply to poultry, 1954.

Registration of dogs in the Township of West Zorra, 1921.

East Nissouri Fox Bounty, 1945.

East Zorra Fox Bounty, 1945.

East Nissouri By-law 12: Enforcement of dogs being secured for 2 months due to a rabies outbreak near Thamesford, 1912, pg. 1