POUND (variant of pond, from AS. ge-pyn clan, to shut up, impound). An inclosure for the temporary confinement of stray animals. Where domestic animals stray upon the public high ways, or upon the land of individuals, any per son injured thereby may take possession of and `impound' them, that is detain them in a pound until the owner pays him for any damage they may have caused. A pound may be one estab lished by law, known as a public or common pound ; or where there is no public pound. a per son on whose land cattle or other domestic beasts stray may confine them in an inelosure on his own land, with the intention of thereby impound ing them. In the latter case, the person so con fining the animals is responsible for them. To obtain a release of the beasts the owner must pay him for their keep, as well as for the damage they have done.
Where eattle are taken to a public pound the person taking them should leave with the pound keeper a certificate, containing a brief statement of the cause of impounding, and the amount of damages be claims. The poundkeeper then be
comes responsible for the keep of the animals. The compensation of the poundkeeper is usually derived from fees, which must be paid by the owner before the poundkeeper is obliged to re lease them. In most States, either the pound keeper or the person impounding the animals must give notice to their owner if he can be aseertained and found. If the owner does not redeem his animals within a time fixed by stat ute. or, in absence of such provision, within a reasonable time, after notice, the poundkeeper may advertise and sell the beasts, satisfy all eharges against them, and hold the balance to the credit of the owner. Consult Ingham, Law of Animals (1898).