Otago farmer frustrated that wild dog keeps killing lambs

A runaway dog ​​is believed to be responsible for killing more than 50 lambs and mutilating many more on a Maheno farm in the past month.

Desperate, farmer Doug Brown installed thermal cameras on his property, which captured an image of the dog, which is of an unknown mixed breed.

It is tan in color with black spots on the face and neck.

Waitaki District Council Senior Compliance Officer Tristan Hope said the dog’s identity had not been confirmed, but it was suspected to be a dog that had gone wild after it escaped from its owner several months ago.

Brown said the dog’s owner had tried unsuccessfully to catch it.

“We can’t be totally sure, but it is targeting this dog,” Brown said.

“He’s very elusive and it’s going to be difficult to locate him.

“It seems to be in our place in different paddocks.”

Brown said he was trying to capture the dog, or as a last resort shoot it, but because it appeared in different paddocks, it was difficult to predict where it would appear on any given night.

“We have to keep fighting and hopefully someone will be able to pick it up,” he said.

“It is extremely difficult to reach and can probably pick up the smells of the people that are out there.”

Brown said his farm worker was “absolutely furious” about picking up dead or injured lambs most mornings.

Hope said council staff were investigating the dog’s possible origin and trying to positively identify it.

“Owners can report any dog ​​attack to the council, who will investigate the matter where possible,” Hope said.

“They should regularly check their stock and may also want to reach out to neighbors to raise awareness of the problem in case another property is at risk.

The owner of any livestock or poultry could seize or destroy any dog ​​running among those animals under section 60 of the Dog Control Act of 1996, he said.