*1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS

AUSTIN

xonoreble John C. Xarbureer

c.ca~ty ~~ttorney

Poyette County

LeGranss, Taxes.

. The imy3rtcnt point for annljois in this oplnlcn 1s tine exact de.ilnition of t!~o +rtlse nrunniaz at large”.

AS Q ccnzr~l rule words ~111 be Given ttoir usual and ordin- e7y menin..:. *?u,min: lar=cn hrts, b-en dcfincd QS nstroll- at in-, VAtLout resti*Lint .or conf inezent ,‘* or %mderln~, roving or rbzt~liiq ilt ~111 ume5traimd.*8~ See 23 Tex. am. 369.

Si Xonoreble John C . Xarburger, paze 2

In 1 ?z*C.L., psge 1149, the follo71io~ statezwt

ih regard to degree cf care nooessezy under such Stock So- tute is stated 48 iOllff~sS:

The chnrze or czre~suffioient to take a oase o;ithout a prohibitory statute does not always i&ply dire& physical power to ccntrol the aotion of the anirr;al.n

St is apparent then that any method of control or restraint that vmuld prohibit the an&al fror? wanderlrg, &rolling:, or roving would be sufficient. Ze believe that tho intention of the iegielature in enactin this statute, wae to proteot the public at large from dmage done by live- etook‘not under control of its mvner. ,?h;is act was Fassod in ah effort to protect the unfenced property of the grivate aitlzen. A oow staked in a vacant lot sculd at least be under the physical oontrol of the chnin or ropa to which it was Med. An animl properly staked could net stroll 02 wader sinlessly about &nd dr, &.raCe to unfenced property. Thus applying the ordinary manins given to the phrase %%nning at large" and following: the apparent Intention of the Le@dd.ure, we met ammr your question lri the neg4- tlve.

?f& truly yours