After much discussion and debate, the citizens of Foxboro by a slim margin voted to enact a Dog Control Bylaw. The audible vote was close enough to be challenged by the opponents to the bylaw.

It is recalled that, "The moderator proceeded to a count, and the vote was affirmed."

The proponents of the bylaw were very happy with the wording of Article 3. Especially since the bylaw authorized a bounty to be paid by the Town Treasurer for the head of any dog "found running at large contrary to the law."

The 1849 vote was preceded by a report submitted by "a committee appointed on March 19, 1849 to prepare a code of By-Laws respecting dogs going at large.... " The final report contained several articles designed to be a solution to the dog problem.

Article 1. "Every person who shall own or keep any dog which shall be suffered to go at large shall pay to the use of the town fifty cents annually for every such dog, and also put upon the neck of said dog a collar, with the name of the owner, the name of the Town, and the word Licensed, legibly inscribed upon the same.... " Article 2. "When in the opinion of the Selectmen the safety of the inhabitants require it, they shall order that every dog allowed to go at large, shall be muzzled with a good and sufficient wire muzzle, for a term of time as they shall think it proper:..and the selectmen may offer a bounty not exceeding one dollar to be paid out of the town treasury for every dog killed in the town which shall be found running at large contrary to the law."

Article 3. "The Treasurer of the town shall be authorized to receive the head, cut off the ears of any dog which shall be killed running at large contrary to the law, and pay the bounty that shall be offered by the Selectmen, to the person presenting the same."

One hundred and fifty-nine years later and the town of Foxboro is still wrestling with dog problems. The canine conundrum causes one to ask, "Is the dog really wagging its tail? Or is the tail wagging the dog?"

BILL MILHOMME lives in Foxboro.