Lambs mauled to death

Press, 16 November 1987, Page 3

Lambs mauled to death

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

About a dozen lambs have been mauled to death by marauding dogs on a Governor’s Bay farm.

The carnage was discovered by a “hobby farmer,” Mr Lachie Griffen, when he checked his flock about 10.30 a.m. yesterday. About nine had been killed outright, their throats or bellies ripped open. Another three had to be put down. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Griffen was still find-

ing others injured. Some of those might also have to be killed.

“They’ve absolutely torn them apart,” said Mr Griffen.

It appeared the dogs had got into Mr Griffen’s steep top paddock overnight and herded the flock of about 30 sheep and lambs against the lower fence line. The fence had crumpled under their weight. . Only lambs were attacked, 10-week-old animals worth about $2O each.

Another 50 sheep in a lower paddock were left alone, but Mr Griffen expected the dogs to return. Dogs always worried sheep in pairs, egging each other on, and liked to try again once they had the taste for it, he said. Mr Griffen asked his neighbours about the attack, but. none had heard anything. One person, however, reported seeing two black labradors together on the main road about 1 a.m.

Governor’s Bay had a lot of pet dogs, said Mr

Griffen. Most owners would deny that their dogs were responsible for the attack, but would not be aware of what their pets were really capable of doing. Summary execution awaited any dogs daring to return to Mr Griffen's property last night. The Lyttelton police had agreed to mount an armed guard. "They’ll get short shrift if they come up here again. They’ll get a bullet between the eyes,” said Mr Griffen.