The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-04-15
DOGS ARE SLEEPS
GREATEST ENEMY


by $50 per cent, it is estimated. with.
out displacing other livestock. Some
authorities believe that the increase
could be even as much as 500 per cent
without serious interference with the
number of other animals. An increase
OF $50 per cent in these SO states
would mean in money $144, ,267 600. In
new publication of the Department
of Agriculture, Farmers Bulletin 652,
the responsibility for this loss to the
country is laid upon the sheep-killing
dog.
Sheep killing dogs, it is said, are
the principal cause of the marked de-
crease in the numbers of sheep on
American farms. In the 10 years be
tween 1900 and 1910 the number of
sheep in the country, exclusive of the
states in the Western Division, de-
creased 3,800000 head, in face of the
fact that during these same years the
market value of sheep rose so rapidly
that the total value of sheep in this
area was $19,000,000, or Approximately
25 per cent more in 1910 than in 1900.
Favorable though the market condi-
items were, they were not a sufficient
incentive to induce farmers to risk the
heavy losses from stray dogs.
The number of sheep killed annually
by dogs cannot be stated exactly,
since there are many cases which are
not reported at all Judging from the
figures in those counties and states in
which reasonably complete reports are
obtainable, however, it may be said
that in the 36 farm states more than
100000 sheep are killed each year by
dogs. This, it is true, is less than one
per cent of the total number of sheep
in this area, but a one per cent loss
on business that is being conducted
on a profit basis of 5 or 6 per cent
cannot be ignored. This estimate it
must be remembered is also probably
much lower than the actual figures. 1t is
certain, too, that many men have been
kept out of the sheep business through
fear that in their own particular cases
the loss would be much more than one
per cent. Anyone who has actually
seen sheep killed, injured, or fright
ened by dogs is likely to think twice
before engaging in the business. In
many cases while only one or two
sheep may be actually bitten by the
dogs the whole flock is chased until
it dies from exhaustion.
If the dog question could be salts
factorily disposed of there seems to
be no reason why the number of sheen
in the country could not be increased
to the extent already indicated. In
Great Britain there is one sheep or
lamb for each 2.5 acres of the total
area. In the SO farm states in this |
country there is one sheep or lamb for
each 31.s acres The British farmer
handles his land on an intensive ba |
sis and feeds his sheep on forage-erop |
pastures. Such pastures not only in |
crease the fertility of the land, but
also free the sheep from many internal
parasites contracted through grazing
upon permanent pastures. In particu- |
lar, the use of a succession of forage |
crop pastures will prevent stormaeh |
worms. one of the most prevalent and |
disastrous scourges of young stock, /
and will enable the farmer to market
bv the end of June or the first of July, |
when market prices are usually the
highest, the lambs that were born in /
the late winter or early spring. Hand |
led under such conditions and on high |
priced farm land the Importance of
a small flock of sheep cannot be over
looked.
In addition to pointing out these
facts the bulletin already mentioned,
EEThe Sheep Killing Dog,' discusses
the possible means of preventing in |
the future the loss from dogs. At the
present time the various state laws on |
this subject differ widely, some states
using the money obtained from dog
licenses to reimburse sheep owners,
while others permit the sheep
men to recover damages from the dog
owners and two Offer them no recourse
whatsoever Dogs, however, are very
seldom caught in the act of killing
sheep. 1t is always difficult TO deter
mine their owners, and where the
damages are paid by the state directly
from the dog tax funds the money |
very frequently is far from sufficient
to meet all the claims.
A remedy that is suggested for this
situation is a uniform state dog law
the principle of tax upon
dogs sufficiently heavy to discourage
those who are not willing to take care
of their pets from keeping them. I'm
der this plan all dogs over six months |
of age must be licensed each year, the
tax paid at the time of licensing and
a metal tag bearing the license number
to the dogs collar. Any dog
found without this tag, unattended and
off its owners premises, may be kill
ed When found unattended on farm
where sheep are kept the dog may be
killed whether it has the tag or not, |
and under any circumstances a dog
caught chasing or killing sheep may
be killed. All dogs which can be prov
ed to be sheep killers must be killei
caught in the act or not, and
a reward of SIS should be offered for
anyone identifying a sheep-killing dog.
The money received from dog taxes
should be devoted to reimbursing sheep
owners for their lost stock and the
county should in turn recover this |
money whenever possible from the
dogs owners. A special license should
be issued for kennels where large mum
bers of dogs are maintained under
such conditions that they cannot posi-
bly, do any harm to neighboring
hocks
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