The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-11-08
HOW DOG LOVERS
CAN SAVE SHEEP
Owners of CANNES Can Aid by
Supporting Fair State Laws
Regulating Menace.
Most Serious Loss Is Fact That Farm
ers Are Kept From Engaging In
Sheep Business-Dog-Proof
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 gheep-killing dog problem.
Dog-proof fences alss are described
and advocated in q recent publication
of the department of agriculture deal.
ing with this subject, '4Ths Sheep-Kill-
ing Dog" Farmers Bulletin o35.
Hindranee to Industry.
That dogs are Il 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 cut Of total
Of $3.50, 492 sheep in the 5O2 counties
reporting, 1858 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, 7eO 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 singly
and in groups, but usually in tWos or
threes. They do not limit their at
tacks to the focks Of the immediate
vicinity in which they are kept. but
travel for miles In all directions,
spreading destruction In the fiocks
with which they come In contact. Be-
cause their work is so often done un-
der cover Of darkness 1t is almost I'M
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 a 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
a dog has once formed a habit OF kill
ing sheep it seemingly becomes a
mania with him and he is seldom, If
ever. broken of 1t. He not only de-
stroys sheep himself but leads other
dogs to the work. No consideration
should be given such dogs; they should
he killed as soon as their habits are
known.
RehabiIitating Industry.
The desirability of a maximum in
crease in the number of sheep is gen
orally admitted and steps now are
being taken toward a rehabilitation OF
the sheep industry. But 1t is recog'
nized that one of the most effective
means of insuring the farmer a profit
on sheen is to make and enforce laws
which adequately protect the farmers
flock. but in most of the states the
present dog laws fail Ia their purpose
Tl