81-7-402. Liability of owner of dog for damages to livestock or poultry. (1) The owner of livestock or poultry injured or killed by any dog may recover as liquidated damages from the owner of the dog the actual value of the animals killed or the value of the damages sustained by reason of the injuries as the case may be. If two or more dogs kept by two or more owners or keepers injure or kill any livestock or poultry at the same time, the owners or keepers of the dogs are jointly and severally liable for such damages. It is no defense to the action that the owner or keeper of the dog had no knowledge of the dog's whereabouts at or prior to the time when the dog injured or killed livestock or poultry or that the owner or keeper of the dog had no knowledge of the dog's disposition or inclination to worry, kill, or injure livestock or poultry.
     (2) The word "owner" when used in this section in relation to property interest in or possession of dogs includes every person who owns, harbors, or keeps a dog.

     History: En. Secs. 14, 15, Ch. 280, L. 1959; R.C.M. 1947, 16-4614, 16-4615; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 14, L. 1979.