The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-20
BLAMES LOW PRICES FOR
NEW ENGLAND'S LOST SHEEP
When Wool Dropped from 80 Cents Pound to TO- Farm
ers Found More Money in Mk-Vagabond Dogs Cause
Most Damage to Flocks

for his losses by the local authorities
from the money acquired from dog Ii
censeS, which amounts to q form Of in
surancc whereby the dog owners pay
the premiums and the sheep owners /
are insured against losses by dogs, !
while the unexpended balance is paid /
over to schools or public Libraries, there
by lowering the total tax levy to that |
extent.
But while the apparent loss is fully
raid, there is an actual loss that cannot
be fully reeompensed, for a flock after
worrying by dogs becomes nervous and
uneasy. They feed, fatten or breed
poorly, according to the time of year
and the number and extent of the IN
| yasions.
| have sheared or pulled the wool
from great strong sheep found dead aft
er a dog raid when not mark could be
found to explain their dcatI-died
from fright after becoming exhausted
from running.
Those that escape alive are frequent
| II so frightened and exhausted that
they do not feed well for weeks, and
often come to the barn in the fall in
poor condition, so that your flock as
whole, even though the actual loss in
numbers may be small, is not in as
good condition for wintering and rear
ing lambs as they should have been aft
er a summer of placid, quiet grazing.
This loss is not compensated.
War conditions have brought prices
back to where it looks possible to
raise sheep proftably for a time. at
least in spite of high taxes and high
cost Of grain and labor: Such being
the ease, ] believe that we should do
everything possible to assist and en-
courage the experiment and in every
way DO our utmost to prevent losses
and injury by dogs.
The actual losses from sheep killed
can be easily covered by the present
, existing license, or insurance. . but
T the loss to the morale Of the flock can
5 not be easily estimated or repaid. Youl
! last year 5 work has been discounted
and you start the next with handicap
against YOU. Let US be fair and help
I full 10 the sheep raisers, but let us no'
+ be unfair To the dog owner
o Many persons, able and entitled t,
l. own dog, could not possibly pay
t large damage bin for raid in which
I perhaps his dog was only runnin!
companion for the dog doing and re
t sponsible for the whole damage T.
l. protect the sheep owner and insure hin
: of his pay and at the same time pro
y tect the dog owner this system of Ii
cense was established like municipal
a ~ managed sheep insurance
? That the present rates Of license
t are sufficient may be seen by consult
: ing any town record for the amount o
II money returned to the town after a
1t damages and expense of handling hav
It been paid
In Wakefield we received &S3I06 las
n year, which was turned over for til
e support Of the public library. If W
W value an average sheep at - and TAX
1t 500 as an average tax rate, il will tas
e p sheep to yield the same revenue 6
Il, Is received from one male dog
censed at -, or it would require
I'd flock of lo.3sS sheep to yield this tow
he the same profit in taxes that it no
sc receives from its dog licenses.
ct In the town there would not be ha
nor q quarter of pasturage for such
st flock. while most Of the land now use
he for truck farming and milk raisir
would have to be taken over to pr
rt vide winter forage for those shee
ar, The present license on a male dC
tie equals the average tax on a horse
to COW.
or Neither Is il easy to see how the
nd censing of a puppy at three months
ur age instead Of six will be of any ben
ne fit or protection to the sheep industr
or What damage Is done to livestock al
to poultry is almost wholly by renegade
rn whom the dog lovers as well as t
tshcep owners are glad to be rid Of, al
ar