The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-08-07
FLoRIDA's SHEEP INDUSTRY
Discouraged by Want Of Protec-
ton from Dogs

evil affecting the interests of the
whole country and one which will
lead to drastic regulations despite
the mere sentmentality Of which
politicians take advantage to Sc
cure votes when it says:
The sale of 10000 pounds Of
wool last week shows that the
sheep industry in West Florida is
growing by leaps and bounds, de-
spite the heavy inroads on the
herds by worthless cur dogs.
West Florida affords fine natural
ranges for sheep, and with little
effort and proper protection, wool
growing could be made a most |
profitable industry here.
The legislature at its recent SEES
sion displayed a disposition to leg
islatc for the best interests of
Florida when it passed a law
which would have given sheep
owners some degree Of protection
against worthless ours whose raw
ages among the fcecy AockS so
discourageG those who wish to add
to Florida's wealth by growing
sheep. But it met with a veto ac-
companied by a message full Of
sentimental;ty.
Now, those may eat dogs flesh
who banker after it. They may
weave the hair of the dog into
cloth who, expect to secure any
warmth from garments Of hat
material, or use leather goods
made from dogs hides. AS far
us, give us the sheep for such pur-
poses.
A soft heart is what the mere
sentimentalist thinks he displays
when he talks of the "friend of
man." but when the argument is
made to cover ours whose owners
are indisposed to pay taxes or
submit to restrictions meant to
protect the sheep owner and his
rights, the softness it displays
may be well suspected to be locat- 6
ed in quite another organ. The
terror, suffering and death in 81
ficted upon the harmless sheep by n,
an animal whose primal instinct T
is to wantonly attack whatever he m
knows or thinks is afraid Of him +
is not counted in the argument of q,
The sentmentalist, nor the loss to n,
he sheep farmer and to the whole .,
in the destruction Of so W
many wool bearers.
Dog owners have votes as well
Us sheep owners, and there are n,
more OF them. None is so jeal- IN
JUS of dogs alleged rights as 10
he owner Of worthless cur. We
None is more jealous of his sup ~
'osed right to keep an untaXed 40
-og regardless of the welfare of 10.
he community than the man who va
WINS one or more. or is owned by tle,
or thcm-which may cost as
luch to keep as & child with no
ctual or potential ability to re-
ay the expense of his or her ~
eeping. ."
Education in that direction is p t
ur need-information and argu- ~
lent that will show fhat a dog az az
hose market value may not be ~
0 cents may destroy in one Va Va
lights foray $50 or even 800 vi
,orth Of sheep. Yet a dog which {
s owner may value at far great ."
r figure than so cents is just as
apable of destroying as many
aluable sheep in one night. Ed IN
cation is needed to make the dog ap
wner understand that the grow GU
lg scarcity Of wool, reflected in d"
lcreased prices for WOODEN gar Sf
.ents, is in large measure due to Gu
re immense number of dogs in no
lie country. At least two states ne
t the Union have adopted dras- d
C laws regarding the dog and in
efense of helpless victim, the
leep, and more will follow suit Re
) enlightenment on this import BIT
1t question grows. Times : fro
Mon. me
--------------- tOl
Miss Mabel Addison of Fort tic
gden, is spending a few days
al Mice Mabel Toa1~1oa., n IL.