MARAUDING DOGS

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1935, Page 12

MARAUDING DOGS

NUMBER OF SHEEP KILLED. FARMERS MUCH CONCERNED. •Special to "Northern Advocate”! NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. Sheep worrying has been reported from several parts of the district and on two farms on the Frankley Road over 20 animals have either been killed outright by dogs or have been drowned in their attempts to get away from the killers. Mr E. P. Webster, whose farm is situated a short distance beybind the Frankley Road Schqol, has lost 16 sheep, and Mr Pike, whose property is on the Cowling Road and adjacent to the back paddocks of Mr Webster’s farm, has lost six sheep. In the latter instance, the sheep in attempting to escape from the dogs jumped into a creek and were drowned, while on Mr Webster’s property some of the sheep, had actually been killed and others had been drowned in a small swamp. Farmers are naturally very much concerned, and are joining forces in keeping watch in the hope that they will be able to shoot the killers. A few nights ago two .men armed with guns saw three cattle dogs, one being a tri-colour, and another a beardie. The men fired, but without injuring the dogs, which quickly disappeared. On the following night Mr Webster’s sheep were driven into a small holding paddock near the house and about dusk a dog appeared and began worrying. It was shot and efforts will, of course be made to trace the owner. Pai’ties will continue their nightly watch and hope to get more of the marauders.

Sheep have been disturbed during the past week or so on a property at Omata and on two farms on the Junction Road, but fortunately none were actually worried. One farmer whose property is on the Junction Road told a “Taranaki Herald” reporter that he had seen several strange dogs on his property but had not been fortunate enough to get near enough to shoot them. In every instance they were cattle dogs. He had come to the conclusion that the dogs belonged to farmers, and said he could not understand why the man who confined his attention to dairying entirely did not show a little more consideration for his neighbour, who also ran a few sheep, and see to it that the dogs were chained up after the evening milking instead of being le:ft free to roam the countryside.