Hunters save dogs from nettle horror

If animals could hand out humanitarian awards then North Otago hunter Murray Oliver would surely be in line to receive something akin to a canine knighthood.

Out searching for wild pigs on January 3, little did the Oamaru farmer suspect that within hours he would be racing to save his hunting pack.

A good day for hunting, Murray rose early and with his team of six dogs and a friend's son, Mitchell Sidon, piled in and on to his truck and drove towards the Kakanui Ranges.

Within 30 minutes they'd left their vehicle and continued their travels on a motorcycle; the dogs, in anticipation, running with them.

Murray said he soon spied pig rooting among some rocks.

(...)

Soon after, the normality of the two hunters' day began to rapidly change.

"It was only a matter of about 20 minutes before the dogs started going down. They were scratching and itching themselves on the ground, against rocks and against me.

"Kim, was the first to become badly affected. Her joints locked up straight away. Beau was next to get crook and shortly after that Thai went down as well."

Dropping the pig's carcass, Murray and Mitchell struggled with the dogs who were either paralysed or near to it, up the side of the gully to the motorbike.

(...)

"We piled the other three dogs, Jake, Patch and Jin into the cab and took off for the nearest homestead. There we rang the vet and told them what had happened and that we were on the way."

(...)

He was able to take Jake and Patch home with him (from the vets) but Jake went down again during the night and had to return to the vet's next morning.

(...)

The intrepid hunter has a word of advice for others using the bush.

"Keep a wary eye out and avoid tree nettle."