[Jacob-list] another opinion

[Paintedrockfarm at aol.com]

Linda,
 
I can personally attest to the coyote (lack thereof) issue and dogs.   A 
neighbor down the road about 2 miles lost 3 goats (2 nannies, 1 kid)  Thursday.  
The two adults had large wounds to their necks while the kid  only puncture 
wounds at the throat.
 
My understanding, experience in the vet field and research has indicated  
this is VERY typical of a dog.  Coyotes in general (exceptions, of course  are 
noted!) normally feed on their prey, often dragging it away into the woods  to 
other area.  Dogs will typically kill it and leave it.
 
Saturday morning, I had the misfortune of finding 3 very large, stray dogs  
on my property.  Two black ones (lab type and a shepherd?/mix???) were  jumping 
on my pigs, one at the throat area. The 3rd (St. Bernard mix??) was  pacing 
the fence line at my sheep and searching for a  way thru our  woven wire 
fencing.  I was fortunate enough to have been alerted only  moments before by 
another neighbor who saw the dogs above our property head in  our direction.  So 
when I heard my own dog barking (in her obvious alert  mode), I grabbed a gun and 
ran to the barn.  I dropped one, hit another and  the 3rd (probably the 
smartest, sly one) disappeared before I could bolt another  round.
 
Although state laws differ on this topic, WV does allow for a land owner to  
eliminate an animal who is harassing, chasing, maiming (or attempting to 
maim),  threatening or acting in a threatening manner towards livestock or people 
on the  property.  We know all our neighbors and what kind of dogs they have -- 
 just in case.  Since the most of have livestock, it is an understood  
"RESPECT" among farmers to pen, tie or otherwise contain dogs from roaming onto  
another person's property. 
 
Once I decided to fire into our pond in an attempt to "scare off" a  stray 
dog.  I thought my plan had worked when he raced away in the opposite  direction 
only to discover the dog had circled back around the top of property  and was 
climbing fence (yes -- dogs can climb fence) into the sheep  paddock.  His 
window of opportunity to leave came crashing down rather  quickly.  Wild, feral, 
stray and even the "lost" dogs are devastating to  livestock.  Around here, 
there is no second chance on a wild or feral  dog.  If a neighbor's dog would 
happen to find its way into the sheep, I  would make every attempt possible to 
catch it before making the decision to  eliminate it.  My experience has been 
that determined dogs, even when  thwarted away a few times, will still return. 
 Our rule of thumb is a  steadfast one -- no roaming dogs, period!  Cheryl
 
P.S.  Neutered animals are much more likely to "stay home"!
Mike  & Cheryl Terrano
_Painted  Rock Farm_ (http://members.aol.com/paintedrockfarm) 
Route 4 Box 726
Buckhannon, WV  26201-9205
(304) 457-6620 
_paintedrockfarm at aol.com_ (http://paintedrockfarm@aol.com/) 
Breeders of Registered Jacob Sheep & French Angora  Rabbits
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