I really enjoy holding something that is well over 100 years old and looking back into our dog tax history. Another thing that I took notice about this particular booklet is the many ornate fonts used on the cover and within.This was an exceptional use of available fonts in the 19th century.

 There were over 6 different versions of the #8 font used in this book.........

Here are just a few of the remarkable, stylized letters:  Look especially at the Capital "S" in the word Supervisors above.

The dog tax for a female dog back during this period in Ontario County, NY was $3, but a second female dog owned by the same family costed $5 to license/tax. A male was only .50 to tax, but a second male was $2

A term that I read in this book that was new to me:

A Fence Viewer is a town or city official who administers fence laws by inspecting new fence and settlement of disputes arising from trespass by livestock that have escaped enclosure.

The office of Fence Viewer is one of the oldest appointments in New England. The office emigrated along with New England pioneers to the Midwest as well, where the office still exists.