Warning on dog shooting

Press, 17 April 1979, Page 4

Warning on dog shooting

Farmers who find dogs savaging their sheep could face prosecution if they shoot the dogs. Several recent attacks had, occurred inside Christchurch s city limits, where it : was illegal to discharge a firelarm. said a police spokes,man. The Paparua County Coup jcil's chief ranger (Mr R. J., ;B. Mackintosh) said that in spite of this most farmers I shot marauding dogs on the spot. In the latest attack. 21 sheep were killed or badlv —

mauled by dugs in paddocks off Waterloo Road, Sockburn, on Friday night. Eleven of the .sheep, some of them stud animals, had been owned by the late Mr iLance Early, an agricultural journalist of "I he Press The other 10 had been awaiting slaughter at an abbatoir. A spokesman for the Hornby police said that inquiries were continuing but it was difficult to trace the dogs unless an owner came forward. "Owners of dogs are not yen likeh to do that." he said.

Mt Mackintosh said the attacks were a continuing problem for farmers on the outskirts of Christchurch but his staff had been called tn •‘only ven rarely'' to deal with dogs which had been caught. "In most cases the dog* ate shot on the spot by farmers If farmers arc in any doubt about the legality of discharging firearms tn an area they should check with the police first. "People living in a resi, denttal area gel very touchy when they hear shots.