§ 4:19-5 — Claims for and establishment of damages

When any person shall sustain damage by the destruction or wounding of his sheep, lambs, domestic animals or poultry, except dogs and cats, he may take two respectable freeholders of the taxing district wherein the damage was done, who are not related to him, to view the animals or poultry so killed or wounded. If it shall appear to their satisfaction that the animals or poultry were killed or wounded by a dog or dogs, the freeholders shall make a return or certificate thereof in writing, properly verified, stating the amount of damages such person has sustained. That certificate, together with the properly verified certificate of the person suffering the damage, setting forth the facts of the case in full and the estimate of damages sustained, shall entitle the person damaged to the sum stated therein, to be paid by the governing body of the municipality in conformity with this article; except that if the damages certified appear to the governing body to be excessive, it may require the facts stated, claimed and exhibited to be investigated before it under oath and shall award payment accordingly. No claim for damages shall be valid unless the certificate is filed with the clerk of the municipality within thirty days after the damage for which claim is made has been sustained.