AN attack on an alpaca at Fernmount by pet dogs follows last month’s devastating carnage at Bellingen High School where seven ewes and a cow were killed and a calf was seriously wounded.
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The weekend’s disturbing incident involved two dogs, which chased a pet alpaca into a dam and chewed on the side of its face. The owners called the ranger who took the dogs and impounded them while further investigations are made.
Last month, Bellingen High School’s Nick Hillier was first on the scene after a couple of local dogs, known for frequent roaming, had attacked the school’s animals.
Sheep had been ripped apart and cattle were wounded or traumatised.
“I got a call saying one of the school’s sheep was in the creek near the bus bay at the high school,” Nick said.
“I thought that it couldn’t be one of the school’s sheep as they are kept on the other side of the school, but I went to investigate with six students from the Year 11 Agriculture class.
“It turned out it was one of our ewes, but she couldn’t stand and was just lying in Cemetery Creek, half drowned. Her legs were ripped open and there was a hole, the size of a fist, torn from her neck, but she was somehow still alive.
“We pulled her out of the water and put her in a trolley cart and took her to the Agriculture shed. I then went down to the sheep paddock to see how the ewe could possibly have got out. There were two sheep dead in the paddock, with gashes in their necks and legs. No longer able to walk or run they had been ripped apart. The ram was laying down next to a trough in shock with large chunks of wool torn from his back, lacerations to his neck and legs and part of his lip torn away.
“Of the seven other ewes in the paddock, five had serious lacerations, one with only a couple of cuts and one lucky animal seemed to have escaped.
“Over in the calving paddock all the cattle were very anxious and had obviously been chased around. One heifer had an unusual amount of mucus discharge around her tail and one of the calves could barely stand due to a twisted front leg.”
Nick said the dogs had been on the school previously, and at various times were returned to their owner by the school’s agricultural assistant and at other times by the school’s general assistant.
“The presence of these dogs at the school had been previously reported to council rangers,” he said.
“There were assurances that the slaughter and mauling of the stock was a serious issue and that action would be taken.”
Unfortunately, whatever action had been planned, it was not quick enough to prevent the second mauling the following day.
“Again the vet was called and the process of suturing sheep and injecting them and spraying with antiseptic was repeated, but now there are only five of our ten ewes still alive,” he said.
“The ewe found in Cemetery Creek had been in the shed as she could not stand, and this saved her from another attack. Three more holes were dug and sheep buried. The ranger came and explained that he would investigate, but could give no assurances that the stock would be safe from further attack.”
A month later this question remains unanswered.
The school has placed stock back into the paddocks, albeit in a small restricted area. In total, seven ewes and a show cow died and the calf is damaged permanently.
“Apart from the disturbing and atrocious death these animals suffered, the cost to the school has been nearly $5000,” Nick said.
“This doesn’t include the fact that we a getting quotes to build a proper dog-proof fence.”
In a statement, Bellingen Shire Council said its officers impose orders under the Companion Animals Act depending on the nature and severity of the attack.
“In the most serious of offences, a dangerous dog order is imposed being defined as: without provocation, attacked or killed a person or animal (other than vermin), or has, without provocation, repeatedly threatened to attack or repeatedly chased a person or animal (other than vermin).
“The control requirements imposed on a dangerous dog include; while on the property on which it is ordinarily kept, the dog is kept in an enclosure that is sufficient to restrain the dog and prevent a child from having access to the dog.
“Ensure that at all times when the dog is away from the property where it is ordinarily kept: it is under the effective control of some competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord or leash; and it has a muzzle securely fixed on its mouth that will prevent it from biting any person or animal”.
Council said failure to comply with dangerous dog orders would result in a fine of $1320.
