FERAL DOGS OUT OF CONTROL

An increasing population of feral dogs in the Capertee valley is causing what once was a thriving sheep farming region to turn eerily silent.

Farmers are waking up to mauled or killed livestock each morning while others don’t go to bed shepherding their flocks throughout the night. Some farmers have hit their wits end and are selling off all their remaining sheep because of these ongoing attacks.

Fifth generation sheep farmers Reginald and Aileen Larkin along with their farm manager Wes have been heartbroken by the number of ewes that have been attacked or killed by feral dogs. The merino stud’s bloodline has been mastered over the past six decades and now Reg is helpless to the carnage he is witnessing.  

“We have tried everything from baiting, trapping and culling but the dogs have beaten us,” Mr Larkin said.

“We once had 3,000 sheep on this property however we can’t see a way out of this issue and can no longer keep our livestock safe so they have to go. Every night in the paddock is a death wish.

“We can’t keep staying up all night, mustering sheep from paddock to paddock. We are outnumbered by the dogs, its not safe.”

The Larkins sold the last of their ewes this week, their shearing sheds falling silent with only a few mauled sheep remaining whom the Larkins will continue to nurse back to good health before selling them as well.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole visited the farm in Cullen Bullen and has heard from many farmers across the district in similar positions stating that the feral dog population has exploded in the last two years.

“The situation is dire. The sheep industry is worth over $5 billion to the Australian economy and is under attack.

“These are generational farmers who have survived every hardship or natural disaster thrown at them, but the dogs have them beat and they need our help.

“Better resourcing for Local Land Services to control the feral dog population is critical. But we also need to see National Parks, State Forests and Crown Lands be “Better Neighbours” to our farmers helping to cull and control the dog population that is living on their land and hunting on neighbouring farms.

“We can’t stand idly by whilst our hard-working farmers are losing their livelihoods and livestock to these dogs.”

Mr Toole will be raising this issue in the NSW Parliament next week and has called on the Government to back in our rural sector by providing more funding to address this problem.