The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-24
Dogs and Sheep Keeping.

paper on "Sheep Husbandry,' by E.
G. Whitney, in your issue Of Dec. 18th,
and can emphasize by my own exper-
fence his remarks about dogs. Through
this section the damage to sheep by
dogs during the past year has been un
precedented. My own focks have
been attacked six time within as many
months. I own a farm which is much
better adapted to grazing than grain
growing, and upon which my father
formerly kept from 500 to 600 sheep
with good success. But now | find it
almost impossible to keep 100 ewes and
raise lambs from them without having
them torn to pieces by miserable worth
less ours. They come and 60 in the
night, and next morning the damage is
done, but no trace of the dogs can be
found. l have a small flock of Shrop-
shires, not one of which | have dared
leave unhoused over night during the
summer. Nor is it sufficient to con-
fine them 10 yards, for on one occasion
dogs entered my yard close to the
house, and killed fine eve and lamb
The sheep to be safe must be, and have
been, confined in tight barns and base
ments, which is in itself damage, be.
cause it renders them very susceptible
to colds on stormy days. Truly, 1t is
passing STRANGE! II my neighbors'
cattle horses or hogs trespass upon me
and destroy my property, their owners
expect and are willing to settle the
damage; but they feel perfectly at lib
erty to turn loose pack Of ours to roam
and destroy at will, and when damage
is done, they quietly ask (: What do
you propose to do about it?' | am
only one of many flock .owners in this
section who have suffered. OF course
we have sort OF redress in receiving
DAMAGES, as appraised by the assessors,
from the town dog fund. But they
cannot judge the damage to flock
from being chased and worried all
night, and no one wants it done even
if they could be paid for it | have
had my fields watched at night by men
armed with guns but without success
1t is to US serious question, and one
to which the immediate future offers nc
solution. l confess that | turn away
discouraged when my sheep look me in
the face, and ask in their poor dumb
way: "What shall we do to be saved?'
S. E. HITCHcoCK.
Livingston County, N. Y
The above letter published in the
Country Gentleman appeals to every
farmer east Of the Alleshanies. Sheep.
if they could he as safe as other stock
on the farm, would be thu most profit
able in this part Of the country, the
large cities affordiug ready market for
lambs and mutton, while tho fleece OF
we'll kept sheep more shan pays the
cost of provender. 1t is farcical under
the circumstances, for politicians to
expaciate on the value of wool tariff
to farmers. There is one heroic rem
edy, if farmers having reached degree
Of Intelligence on this subject which
will enable them to grasp the subject
in its entirety, that ecu d be applied. A
tax Of rot less than S. 90 yearly on
every dog whose owner could not fore.
go the enjoyment of his canine compan-
ions, and penalty for non paymet of
the tax OF double the amount as fine,
or thirty day in Jail. The tax collector
to furnish tag with the receipt OF each
dog tax, to the owner to be attached to
strap worn round the dogs neck,
every dog found at large without tag,
liable to be killed, and no redress Civ
en- the owner Without such protection
sheep must soon disappear entirely
from the farm. A few dozens will
number all the sheep in Cecil county,
which, but for the dog pest, would con.
tain thousands.
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