ALSATIAN DOGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21977, 12 June 1933, Page 8

ALSATIAN DOGS

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Permit me to state the experience of a lady on her way to church last Sunday with the still dominant wolf in the Alsatian breed of German sheep dogs. The owner certainly had this dog on leash. As the lady passed, her coat happened to flip the dog’s nose. The dog sprang like a wolf; the experience was so quick and savage that up to Wednesday night this lady was still nervous about the matter. One such dog I used to feel fascinated in watching, in a netting wire enclosure, loping round like a wolf. A peculiar thing which I noticed was it went always the one way round. I have never seen any animal so savage in a zoo. At Invercargill, also, I noticed two caged. They certainly proved to me that these dogs are not safe.. Of course, to the man or woman who owns such a dog they would not show their evil temperament. Forty years ago there was considerable trouble, particularly in Central Otago, over wild dogs taking to the sheep. A reward would be offered, but it was always difficult to catch them. One day some of these killers will get into the back country, and it ■will cost the Government a pretty penny to finish the business. The Government should take strict warning and at least put an immediate stop to the commercial handling whereby people are deliberately breeding Alsatians for sale. —I am, etc., R. 3.