The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-04-12
DOGS ARE THE
FARM SLEEPS
WORST ENEMY.
;4}3 5tkHAEDL#V - MNAtHN "
If This Menace Were Removed
FIocks Gould Easily Be
More Than Doubled.


More Than Doubled.
WASHINGTON. April II. The
states, which do not include any In
the western division, could be in
creased by 80 per cent. it is esti-
mated. without displacing other live
stock. Some authorities believe that
the Increase could be even rs much
as 500 per cent without serious in-s
reference with the number Of other
animals. An increase Of 4 SO per cent
in these SO states would mean in
money S144.26T,000. In a new pub
LEGATION Of the department Of agricul-
ture. Farmers Bulletin 6 So, the re-
sponsi bility for this loss to the coun-1
try is laid upon the sheep-killing dog.
\ Sheep-killing dogs, 1t is said, are
the principal cause OF the marked de-
crease In the numbers Of sheep on
Amrican 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 100000 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 S19,000,000 or approximate
lily rs per cent more in 1910 than in
1900. Favorable though the market
conditions were, they were not a suf-a
fcient incentive to induce farmers to.
risk the heavy losses from stray dugs.
More Than 100. 900 Year.
The number OF sheep killed annu-
ally 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 thirty-six farm
states more than 100000 sheep are
killed each year by dogs. This, it is
true. is less than / per cent of the
total number of sheep in this area,
but al per cent loss on business that
lis being conducted on a profit basis
| of S or per cent cannot be ignored.
This estimate, it must be remembered.
| is also probably m UGH 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 I per cent.
Any one who has actually seen sheep
killed, injured or frightened by dogs
| is likely to think twice before engag-
I ing in the buiness. In many cases,
while only or sheep may be ac-
tually bitten by the dogs. the whole
flock is chased until it dies from ex-
haustion
IL the dog question could be sat-
}isfactorily disposed Of there seems to
be no reason why the number Of
sheep in the country could not be in
creased to the extent already indicat-
I'd. In Great Britain there is Il sheep
or lam for each 2.5 acres Of the to-
tai area. In the 8 farm states in
this country there Is sheep or lamb
for each 3l.8 acres. The British
farmer handles his land on an in
tensive basis and feeds his sheep on
forage-crop pastures. Such pastures
not only increase the fertility Of the
land, but also free the sheep from.
many internal parasites contracted.
through grazing upon permanent pas
lures. In particular the use of a.
succession of forage-crop pastures
will prevent stomach worms, one#of
the west prevalent and disastrous:
scourges of young stock, and will
enable the farmer to market by. the
end Of PuneSo the first Of j ly, when.
market prices are usually the high.
est. the lambs that were born in the
late winter or early spring. Handled
under such conditions and on high
priced form land the Importance Of al
small flock Of sheep cannot be oy-5
Ierlooked.
ill., In addition to pointing out these
facts the bulletin already mentioned,
The Sheep-Killing DoE...' discusses
the possible means of preventing Tin
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 REIN burse sheep.
owners, while others permit The
sheep men to recover damages from:
the dog owners and two offer them
no recourse whatsoever. Dogs, how
ever, are very seldom caught in the.
act Of killing sheep. It is always dif-
fcult to determine 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.
Uniform Law Needed.
a remedy that is suggested for
this situat1onis a uniform state dog
law, embodying the principle OF tax
upon dogs sufficiently heavy to dis
courage those who are not willing to-
take care care OF Their pets from keep
ing them. Under this plan all dogs
over six months Of age must be IL.
censes each year. the tax paid at the
time Of licensing, and a metal tag
bearing the license nun her attached
to the dogs collar. Any dog found
without this tag unattended and on
Its owners premises. may be killed.
When found, whether 1t has the tag
or not, and under any circumstances
a dog caught chasing or killing sheep
may be killed. All dogs which can