(A) 
Any owner having sheep, goats, cattle, horses, mules, swine, or poultry killed or injured by a dog shall, according to the provisions of the state Animal Control Act and upon filing claim and making proper proof, be entitled to receive reimbursement for such losses from the County Animal Control Fund; provided he or she is a resident of this State and such injury or killing is reported to the Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours after the injury or killing occurs, and he or she shall have appeared before a member of the County Board and made affidavit stating the number of animals or poultry killed or injured, the amount of damages and the owner of the dog causing the killing or injury, if known. Members of the County Board are authorized to administer oaths in such cases.
(B) 
The damages referred to in this Section shall be substantiated by the Administrator through prompt investigation and by not less than two (2) witnesses who shall be owners or life tenants of real property in the County. The member of the Board shall determine whether the provisions of this Section have been met and shall keep a record in each case of the names of the owners of the animals or poultry, the damages proven, and the number of animals or poultry killed or injured.
(C) 
The member of the Board shall file a written report with the County Treasurer as to the right of an owner of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, mules, swine, or poultry to be paid out of the Animal Control Fund, and the amount of such damages claimed.
(A) 
The County Treasurer shall, on the first Monday in March of each calendar year, pay to the owner of the animals or poultry the amount of damages to which he is entitled. Unless the County Board, by ordinance, establishes a schedule for damages allowed for grade animals or poultry shall not exceed the following amounts:
(1) 
For goats killed or injured, Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per head;
(2) 
For cattle killed or injured, Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) per head;
(3) 
For horses or mules killed or injured, Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per head;
(4) 
For swine killed or injured, Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per head;
(5) 
For turkeys killed or injured, Five Dollars ($5.00) per head;
(6) 
For sheep killed or injured, Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per head; and
(7) 
For all poultry other than turkeys, One Dollar ($1.00) per head.
(B) 
The maximum amounts hereinabove set forth may be increased three percent (3%) for animals for which the owner can present a certificate of registry of the appropriate breed association or organization. However, if there is not sufficient money in the portion of the fund set aside to pay all claims for damages in full, then the County Treasurer shall pay to such owner of animals or poultry his pro rata share of the money available.
(A) 
An owner making claim for loss of animals or poultry killed or injured by dogs shall report the loss to the Administrator within twenty-four (24) hours after the loss occurs, shall have not less than two (2) witnesses who are freeholders of the County substantiate the loss within forty-eight (48) hours after the loss occurs, and shall appear before a member of the County Board within seven (7) days after the loss to make affidavit.
(B) 
The Administrator or the person designated by him shall make an investigation, shall observe the animals in question, and shall visit the site where the animals were killed or injured. If the investigator is not a veterinarian and cannot validate the claim then the Administrator shall examine the animals or poultry and make written report to be filed with the County Treasurer as to the cause of death. If the report does not substantiate loss caused by dogs, the claim shall be denied by the Board.
(C) 
Applications used in making claims for damages for animals or poultry killed or injured by dogs shall be on forms as prescribed by the Department. Such forms shall include the amount of claim, the amount paid for each claim, the number and kind of animals or poultry killed or injured by dogs, and whether the animals were grade, or crossbred, hybrid, inbred, and purebred animals registered with an appropriate breed association or organization. In the case of animals registered with an appropriate breed association or organization, the owner shall surrender the certificate of registry to the County. A copy of the certificate shall be maintained in the County records and the original certificate of registry shall be immediately forwarded to the appropriate breed association or organization for cancellation. Claim forms shall be available from the Administrator, County Treasurer, Board members, and other county officials designated by the Board.
(D) 
All costs for the two (2) witnesses to substantiate claims for loss of animals or poultry shall be paid by the owner of the animals or poultry. The Administrator or veterinarian requested by the Administrator to examine animals or poultry for which a claim has been made shall be paid from the Animal Control Fund if the loss is determined to be caused by dogs. If the veterinarian determines that the loss is due to some other cause, the cost of his services shall be borne by the claimant.
(E) 
The County Treasurer shall annually provide the Department an itemized list of claims showing the number and kind of animals or poultry killed or injured by dogs, whether the animals were grade, or crossbred, hybrid, inbred or purebred animals registered with an appropriate breed association or organization, the amount of claim, and the amount paid for each claim. This report shall be submitted not later than April 1 of each year.
(F) 
For the purposes of this Chapter, poultry means chickens, ducks, and geese, and shall not include domestic rabbits, guinea fowl, peafowl, pigeons, pheasants, quail, and waterfowl covered by the state or federal game codes. Also, for the purpose of this Chapter, animals other than goats, cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep, and poultry as defined in this Article, even though kept in captivity, are not eligible for payment under this Article.
The payment to any owner of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, mules, swine, or poultry of monies out of the Animal Control Fund for damages resulting from loss or injury to any of these animals, shall not be a bar to action by the owner against the owner of the dog committing such injury or causing the loss for the recovery of damages therefore. The Court or jury, before which the action is tried, shall ascertain from evidence what portion, if any, of the damages sought to be recovered in such action has been paid to the plaintiff in the action by the County Treasurer, and in case the plaintiff in the action recovers damages, the Court shall enter judgment against the defendant, in the name of the plaintiff for the use of the County, for the amount which the plaintiff has received on account of the damages from the County Treasurer, and the residue of the recovery, if any there be, shall be entered in the name of the plaintiff in the action to his own use. If the amount of the recovery in the action shall not equal the amount previously paid the plaintiff on account of damages by the County Treasurer, then the judgment shall be entered as heretofore stated for the use of the Animal Control Fund, for the full amount of the recovery. The judgment shall show on its face what portion of the judgment is to be paid to the Animal Control Fund, and what portion is to be paid to the plaintiff in the action, and the judgment when collected shall be paid over to the parties entitled thereto in their proper proportions.