Furious farmer shoots dog

AFarmers have shot dead a pig dog they say is responsible for thousands of dollars worth of dead stock.

Waituhi farmer John Topp and hunters had been stalking the dog for over a month before shooting it last week after it killed an estimated 500 sheep and lambs. How can one dog do so much damage!! That's a lot of sheep and a lot of energy to 'output'.

The worrying actually started in early June with a small spate of killings by two dogs, but after chasing the dogs off nothing else happened for two and a half months.

In October the killings started again and Mr Topp estimates from docking tallies, the farm lost around 167 ewes and 240 lambs. Oh, there were small sheep. I get it!

Mr Topp says he is "bloody furious" and he is calling for pig hunters to be more responsible.
"They need to take more responsibility, the dog we caught was a bull terrier or pit bull and it was a real killing machine.
(... read the line in between)
This wasn't an isolated incident for those in the Waituhi area.

Reports from other farmers who border the popular stretch of bush estimate 10 other dogs have been shot over the last 10 months, with at least three picked by the pound.

Taumarunui Constable John Tito says it was one of the worst cases he has ever seen and that must be pretty soul destroying for Mr Topp. "If the dog owner was caught, it is then a civil matter."

Mr Tito says in the eyes of the law if a dog is worrying sheep you are allowed to shoot it on sight and he reiterated that once started these dog just keep killing.

"In my experience most pig hunters who lose a dog are very responsible and leave a Swandrai behind which the dog stays beside, then they go tell local farmers and take ownership for their dog's behaviour if it does anything.

"There are many responsible hunters out there so fortunately this thing doesn't happen often."