The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-08-28
OUR SHEEP AND THE DOGS.

OUR SHEEP AND THE DOGS.
Sheep husbandry has grown to be
one of our most important industries.
Many millions Of money and vast
amounts Of labor are embarked in it |;
yet 80 great have been the depredatlons
of worthless dogs upon the fiocks that
the losses have more than eounterbsl-
apced the profits. This evil is SO wide
spread that sheep have been driven from
many farms altogether, and even from
whole sections OF country.
1t is difficult TO ascertain the full ex-
tent OF these losses, from the fact that,
iu many Of the States, as in West Vir-
GINA, no statistics are gathered. Those
OF Ohio are most complete, and the re-
turns from that State, as given in the
Agricultural Report of 1868. show an
average for ten years Of 35,715 killed an,
nualy, and 90, S74 iyvsd-an estimated
loss Of sl370l9. Mr.. J. R. DODGE, the
statician OF the Agricultural Depart
ment, who has given much attention to
the subject, estimates the total loss
to the country from the depredations OF
dogs at two millions OF dollars in sheep
killed, and one million, nearly, in sheep
injured. He SAYS: 1.-THE loss is equivo-
lent to the value OF 6,000,000 pounds Of
wool. 1t is a tax of two per cent upon
the total sum invested In sheep-a sum
greater than the average levied upon
farmers for county, State and national
purposes combined. Such burden is
intolerable-a drain upon the profits OF
industry that should bespeedily check
ed"
1t would seem that in a we'll regu-
lated community there would be little
difficulty in remedying so great an evil,
or at least compromising the owners
for the loss in his flocks; but! strange
to say, the worthless dogs of the coun>
try have more influence over politicians
than have the intelligence, enterprise
and industry Of the land. The laws Of
Connecticut are perhaps as advanced as
in any of the States upon this subject,
but there is only partial protection there
where the interest is powerful and slim.
ulated by high prices for wool, lamb
ard mutton in home markets. The
law provides for the registration of all
dogs, the males at two dollars head
and the females at FIVE Dogs thus
registered and properly labeled with
strap. are protected by law. The regis
tration fees, with certain other unim-
portant additions, constitute what 10
called dog fund" in each town.
If q farmer losses sheep by dogs be
can recover of the owner Of the
dog, If he can prove the damage and
the owner is responsible man. In
nine cases ont OF ten, the injury is done
in the night, and often by prowling dogs
from distance, SO that no proof can be
had against them. Very often the
owner Of the dog has no visible proper
ty or means OF living, and nothing can
be collected by process OF law. II this
fail, as it usually does, he can carry HE
loss TO the selectmen, and have his bill
for damages filed till the close Of the
year. II the Losses OF sheep do not
exceed the amount OF the dog fund, he
gets his pay in full; if the loss exceed
the fund, it is divided among the sp-
plicants pro rata In most districts the
ravages greatly exceed the fund, and
the sheep owners recover but q small
part OF their losses.
Governments are instituted for the
protection OF life and property. 1t un-
dertakes to furnish us with highways,
and taxes us with their support. II
through defective rode Zone Of. our
horses are crippled we can recover full
damages The county and State IN
dertakes to protect our property and
taxes us for the protection. 1t has
taxed psnthers, wolves and other dam
gerous wild beasts out of existence
1t persistently offered bounties for their
scalps until they were exterminated.
Now we want like immunity for our
flocks from the depreciation OF dogs or
# that be impossible. payment for our
Losses so that we can raise sheep at a
profit, and furnish cheap meat and
cheap clothing for the people.
This matter is one Of great import
ance to all our industrial interests, as
well as to farmers. We want cheaper
meats and clothing, and il we can GOV.
er our pastures with flocks, and have
them Craze in security, we are certain
TO have both. 1t has its bearing upon
the sanitary interests OF the communi-
~. 1t would be for the health OF farm
ers to have mora of fresh lamb and
mutton upon their tables, and lees Of
salt junk. With a good flock OF sheep
it is not difficult to enjoy this luxury,
whether the butcher lives far or near.
1t would no doubt be more for the health
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