The Virginia Gazette

Edinburgh, April 10. Friday last a Complaint was given in to the Magistrates, that a mad Bull Bitch, belonging to James Grieg, Butcher, had bit many Dogs in the Flesh-Market, and the said Complaint being proved by credible Witnesses; to prevent the fatal Consequences...
consequences that must very justly be apprehended from such Number of Mutts in this populous Place, the Magistrates issued a Proclamation, Ordering all Dogs belonging to that Incorporation to be forthwith put to Death, under Penalty of 5 l. Sterling, and Imprisonment to the Owners for 12 Calendar Months; nor are they to keep Dogs for 13 Days to come: Also ordering all Citizens and Inhabitants to remove their Dogs from the City and Liberties : and impowering the City Guard and Town Officers to kill all Dogs that should be seen in the Streets after next Day at Noon, and requiring the Town Treasurer to pay One Shilling Sterling Reward for each Dog so killed.

The Street Caddies, &c. went very early into Obedience of this Edict, for the Drum had scarce gone round to intimate the same, when they fell a knocking o'the Head all suspicious or ill affected Curs, some of which they hang'd on Sign Posts, &c. and with Difficulty could they be restrained from killing the Dogs that lead the Blind about the Streets, or attacking the Ladies with their Lap Dogs. A Detachment of the City Guard was ordered down to the Butcher-Market, when they made very clean Havock of all the Dogs there.

Saturday at Noon the Town Officers being provided with large Oaken Clubs, went a Dog-hunting, and killed every Cur they could see or hear of; so that nothing was to be seen but chasing, hacking, and slashing; or heard, other than the Lamentation of Butchers Wives, &c. for the Loss of Credit, Honesty, Turk, Towser, &c.