The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-06-07
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 10 Fact That Farm
ers Are Kept From Engaging In
Sheep Buslness-Doo-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
here 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-
ion 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 935.
hindrancs to Industry.
That dogs are real hindrance to
he 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 IL states east Of the Rocky
mountains shows that out OFF, total
Vt 6,S36,492 sheep in the 502 counties
reporting, 34,683 We're 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
1917, 76O 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 flocks of the immediate
vicinity in which they are kept. but
travel for miles In all >directionS,
spreading destruction In the flOcks
with which they come in contact. Be-
cause their work is so often done I'M
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 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
| u dog has once formed habit Of kill
ing sheep 1t seemingly becomes a
mania with him and he is seldom. II
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
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 Il recog
nixed that one of the most effective
means OF insuring the farmer prof
Oh sheep is to make and enforce laws
which adequately protect the farmers
flock. but In most Of the states thu
ur,sant dog laws fail In their purpose