Town dogs wreak havoc on farm

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, 20 September 1994, Page 1

Town dogs wreak havoc on farm

Two town dogs are dead and 44 ewes, many carrying twins, are dead after the two dogs went on the rampage Tuesday night last week at the Gardner property on Tohunga Road, Ohakune. Jimmy Gardner was vis-

ibly upset by the incident when he spoke to the Bulletin on Wednesday, after assessing the damage. He said he found the carnage Wednesday morning and managed to corner the dogs on the property. He said he wants town

people to know about the damage, and to know why it is necessary for farmers to shoot stray dogs on their farms. The damage is not restricted to the dead ewes. A further 10 ewes were alive but badly mauled.

But moreimportantly for Mr Gardner was the fact that many of the dead ewes were carrying twin lambs. Because they were heavier and slower, they were the first to be mobbed into creeks and killed by the dogs. Now, his breeding

programme which was set out to build up the number of twin lambs produced has been set back. He predicts he will be 60-70 lambs down at the end of lambing. The stress on the other sheep is also likely to cause later problems. Mr Gardner said he believed the dogs got to his farm via the railway line, as they bypassed other properties between the town and his. He said the pattem of the carnage indicated they swept down from the railway line, cutting a path right through the farm. Mr Gardnerurged all dog o wners to be aware that they cannot let their dogs roam. He said any dog is capable of being a sheep worrier and that the argument that 'my dog would never do that' C\ is false. .^TMbunt