The Pulaskian., 1918-04-19
HOW DOG LOVERS
CAN SAVE SHEEP
Owners of CANNES Can Aid by
Supporting Fair State Laws
Regulating Menace.
BIG HINDRANCE TO INDUSTRY
Most Serious Loss Is Fact That Farm
ers Are Kept From Engaging In
Sheep Busness-Deg-Preof
Fences Described.

Thousands of sheep are ruthlessly
killed every year by dogs. The none
tary loss of more than a million dollars
a year to sheep owners does not cover
the most serious aspect of the damage.
The fact that the dog menace keeps
many farmers from engaging In the
sheep business, even at this time when
there are urgent demands for more
wool and meat, is the most serious
result which may be attributed to
sheep-killing dogs. Specialists of the
United States department of agricul-
ture are urging efficient state legisla-
ton as one of the best ways to deal
with the sheep-killing dog problem.
Dog proof fences also are described
and advocated in a recent publication
of the department Of agriculture deal
ing with this subject, "The Sheep-Kill-
ing Dog" Farmers Bulletin e35.
Hndranee to Industry.
That dogs are a real hindrance to
the sheep industry is not only &C
claimed by the testimony Of thousands
of sheep owners but Is verified by
actual conservative statistics. An In
vestigation by the United States de-
partment of agriculture among sheep
owners In Is states east of the Rocky
mountains shows that out of total
Of $3.50, 492 sheep in the SOP counties
reporting, 34,6S3 were killed by dogs
In one year-1913-and paid for by the
counties. At the same rate of loss in
other farm states the total annual de-
struction of sheep by dogs would be
1O7, 200 head. But these figures are
based only upon the number actually
paid for, and specialists of the United
States department OF agriculture say
it is more than probable that the true
losses far exceed this. 1t is known that
many sheep are killed which are never
reported to the county officials.
Sheep-killing dogs work both singiy
and In groups, but usually In twos or
threes. They do not limit their at
tacks to the fiocks Of the immediate
vicinity in which they are kept, but
travel for miles in all directions,
spreading destruction in the hocks
with which they come in contact. Be
cause their work is so often done un-
der cover of darkness Ii is almost Inn
possible to catch them in the act OF
Worrying sheep, hence they can seldom
be positively identified. The ways in
which different dogs attack and de-
stroy sheep vary greatly. Some dogs
simply kill one or two in flock,
while others continue to attack until
all the sheep are either destroyed or
crippled. In many cases where large
numbers are killed they are neither
bitten nor wounded but simply chased
until they die from exhaustion. After
dog has once formed a habit Of kill
ing sheep 1t seemingly becomes
mania with hir1 and he is seldom, if
ever, broken OF it. He not only de-
stroys sheep himself but leads other
dogs to the work. No consideration
should be given such dogs they should
be killed as soon as their habits are
known
Rehabiitatino Industry.
The desirability of maximum in.
crease in the number of sheep is gen
orally admitted and steps now are
being taken toward rehabilitation of
the sheep industry But 1t is recog-
nlzed that one of the most effective
means OF insuring the farmer profit
on sheep is to make and enforce laws
which adequately protect the farmers
dock. but in most OF the states the
present dog laws fall In their purpose.