A Senseless Attack

This past week we had the most devastating attack yet on our flock, and it was by two (very friendly) pet dogs. They killed thousands of dollars worth of livestock in a single attack, and they left the most horrific scene behind. A scene that we surely won’t forget any time soon. A scene that has made it very hard to sleep this week.

Everyone knows that coyotes are a real threat to sheep farms, but I think fewer people are aware of what a threat the average pet dog is to livestock farms. Many dogs have a natural prey drive - even the beloved house dog that watches tv on the couch with you. Watch them take off after a rabbit or a squirrel in your yard, and you’ll know what I am talking about. Because sheep are prey animals that usually run away from their attackers in groups, they become a target that most dogs can’t resist. What might begin as a game of chase, can quickly decimate an entire flock.

A dog isn’t going to fight off his own natural instincts, but as owners, we can and do have the responsibility to keep our dogs contained and to not let our dogs get into these positions. We have a responsibility to our neighbors and farmers to protect their livelihoods from senseless wastes of resources, lives, and time. The attack on our sheep this week left us devastated for our lambs and quite frankly, devastated for the two dogs. They should never have been able to get all the way to our farm, and they should not have been able to get into that position.

If the potential sight of dead and dying lambs everywhere isn’t enough to convince people to keep their dogs contained, maybe this will be. According to Ohio Revised Code Section 955.28, the owner of any dog that injures or kills livestock is responsible for paying the farmer for the losses. Paying for a crop of lambs, chickens, or calves would likely make anyone wish they had just kept their dog contained. Under the same law, farmers have the right to shoot any dog that is threatening, chasing, or hurting their livestock. But what an awful position to put a farmer in - believe me, no farmer wants to hurt a dog, and especially not someone’s pet. But we have a duty to protect our livestock, and we have to do everything we can to make sure that they are safe, healthy, well-cared for, and protected. While coyotes are still responsible for most predatory sheep losses in the U.S., domestic dogs are a close second. (USDA, 2015) And they are a predatory source that can so easily be stopped with the help of dog owners.

We love dogs - we have two giant, cuddly house dogs that are like kids to us. Maggie and Dash are golden retrievers, and they are the most lovable and loved dogs you will find. But we also know the devastation they could cause if we don’t work to keep them contained and not free to roam. That wouldn’t be fair to them, or to the animals they would hurt. It has been hard enough keeping our livestock safe from coyotes, but the increase in attacks from pet dogs the last few years has been much more devastating.

We really believe that people are convinced their dog wouldn’t hurt livestock…if they knew how often this happens I think there would be a lot fewer cases of this. Please help us spread the word, and help us protect livestock, farmers, and dogs!

USDA. 2015. “Sheep and Lamb Predator and Nonpredator Death Loss in the United States, 2015.”