Dogs are destroying the dreams of rural Carterton woman Beth Caley bite by marauding bite. Ms Caley spoke with the Times-Age early last year after reaching the end of her tether over hunting dogs that over several years had killed all but one of her six pet pigs on her lifestyle property in the Waiohine Gorge near Carterton. The registered saanen goat breeder vowed to get a gun to protect her goats and a single remaining pig named Gertrude.
On Friday she discovered hunting dogs on her property that had just killed three of her goats leaving her with three bucks and two does before also finding she did not have the heart to slay the marauding canines. “I got the dogs bailed up and thought it was an automatic death sentence for what they had done. “I’d got my gun licence and a firearm but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I realised there is no way on God’s green earth I can shoot a dog.”
She reported the mauling to police and animal control officers soon afterwards picked up the dogs and told Ms Caley they would not destroy the animals although the owner would have to pay an infringement fine to get them back. Ms Caley said the three goats she lost are worth about $500 although she has reached an agreement with the hunter who owns the dogs for him to repay $360 in reparation.
“I’ve only just realised the pigs I was losing were keeping my goats safe and if I lose any more animals all my work will have been for nothing. “I have been trying to get my neighbours to trespass the hunter just to show a united front and I’ve contacted a vet to see if I can get an agent under the Animal Control Act to put down any dogs I catch that could do this again. “That’s all I can do now.”
Ms Caley earlier said many property-owners and farmers living in her area and across Wairarapa face the same problem of protecting their property and stock against hunters and their dogs, who seem to traverse near the subdivided properties without any real regard. “There’s 20 lifestyle blocks along the first 3km of my road and a state forest at the end. “And we all have similar troubles with hunters it’s endless,” she said.
Source: times-age.co.nz
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