El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-07
DESTROY
100000 SHEEP
Losses in Eastern States
Enormous and Govern
ment Plans Relief.
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

Washington, D. c.. June THAT
.dors have killed over 100000 sheep
during the past year in the eastern
United States is an estimate recently
made by the department OF agricul-
ture, which has instituted a campaign
to rid the country Of sheep-killing
.dogs.
1t is further stated that the loss OF
this number Of sheep is the least part
of the damage done. for the depreda-
tons of these canine freebooters have
discouraged farmers and checked the
spread Of the industry. 1t is esti-
mated that at this time, when wool
and meat are so greatly needed. east
ern farms might support $4,000, 600
sheep more than they now do support
A QUESTIONABLE was addressed 70
farmers to learn why more sheep are
not raised at this time. when prices
are soaring, and two-thirds of the an
swers could be summarized in one
word; Dogs"
Is Criminal Among DOEs.
The sheep-killing dog is the Grim
inal of his kind He is a farm dog
who has reverted 10 the habits and
desires Of his wild ancestors, and who
uses the confidence Of men and his
knowledge Of their ways TO satisfy his
blood lust He is sometimes a wan
dering, neglected cur who has TO kill
in order TO eat. but as often as not he
is q trusted watchdog who snOOZes IN
and at night becomes a bloodthirsty
hunter.
He nearly always develops a sur
prising cunning in concealing his
crimes. Sometimes he is a dog used
for herding sheep or cattle who faith
fully serves his master by day and
kills the ueighbor's stock by night.
One sheep-kiuiug dog often democrat
ICES a community. for the wolfish in
stinct TO hunt in packs asserts itself,
and he leads other dogs astray, until
sometimes quite a band is formed. The
lone sheep-killer is rather rare ana
most Of the damage is done by groups
Of two to 5our 10 five dogs.
Many years ago nearly all the WOO
produced in this country was raised
on farms east Of the Mississippi, and
in those days the sheep-killing dog
was rigidly suppressed. Any dog upon
whom the faintest suspicion feu was
killed on general principles, and so
were stray dogs
West Takes Over sheep Business.
Then the great arid ranges OF the
west too kthe sheep business away
from the east. because sheep could be
raised so much more cheaply on the
open range. Farm sheep raising no
longer paid, and the flocks dwindled
and disappeared. At the same time.
dogs multiplied, and both law and
public opinion became lax with them.
Now, owing to rising prices. il IS
again profitable 10 raise sheep IN the
farm country Of the east. and the ma
ton wool supply demands it.
Nearly all the depredauOns Of the
sheep killer are nocturnal. Some dogs
merely steal out and kill a single
sheep at night for food, while others
VIII not stop until the flock has been
destroyed. often dogs have killed an
entire flock by simply running them
until the sheep dropped dead from eX-
haustion. often. too. sheep are cru
ely manned by the dogs, so that they
have to be killed. When once the dog
has tasted the blood Of sheep, killing
them seems TO become a mania with
him He is seldom If ever broken Of
the habit.
Dog lowers should not interpret
this campaign against the sheep-kill-
ers as a campaign against dogs in
general The rightful place Of the
dog is recognized everywhere Dogs
used for managing livestock, for hunt
ing and for guarding premises serve
valuable and legitimate purposes In
every community.