DOGS WORRY SHEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22173, 29 July 1935, Page 10

DOGS WORRY SHEEP

FLOCK AT CORNWALL PARK LOSS OF LAMBS INVOLVED A VICIOUS FOX TERRIER Shecp-worr.ving by dogs, which 'ins occurred frequently within recent months at Cornwall Park, lias reached more serious proportions. -As the restilt of the depredations of three dogs at the week-end, one ewe died and five others were worried into such a state of exhaustion that they will have to he destroyed. The lambing season has begun, and while about 50 lambs have already appeared at the park many will be born shortly. Following the sheep-worrying there will bo loss successful lambing. On Saturday morning, between 7.30 and 8 o'clock, three dogs, which arc notorious for sheep-worrying, entered a 20 acres paddock near Green Lone Road, and chased and bit the six sheep. The dogs, which included a fox terrier and a mongrel with collie blood, made off in the direction of Onchunga almost as soon as they were observed. The dogs have been scon in tho park previously, and are remarkably cunning. They keep utterly silent when worrying the sheep. Not content with its part in Saturday morning's work, the terrier returned yesterday morning, but was seen by Mr. W. G. Batt, supervisor of the park. Another employeo fired at the terrier with a shotgun, but tho dog did not allow tho men to approach nearer than 200 yards, and ran away in the direction taken on Saturday. This dog has been particularly vicious. While the animal is not large enough to tear out the ewes' throats, as was done by Alsatians and other large dogs last year, it has inflicted numerous small nips and bruises on its quarry. This has been only too evident when the animals have been skinned. It is during the past three weeks that the sheep-worrying has been more prevalent, and employees at tho park know where to obtain a gun and ammunition when marauding dogs are seen. Five dogs have been shot this year. Tho worrying of sheep by dogs has been reported recently from various parts of the Auckland Province. Five sheep were killed and another five drowned when a mob of 71 was worried by dogs and driven over a bank into the Tamaki Creek at Otahuhu a month ago.