A Far North farmer is fuming after roaming dogs wiped out 165 of his sheep in the past 18 months. Michael Holland of Oponga Farms, south of Broadwood, found a further 18 dead ewes on his 288ha property yesterday, leaving him questioning the profitability of sheep farming and the effectiveness ofdog laws. "It's just awful," said Mr Holland. "Financially it's pretty disastrous." The maulings follow a spate of dog attacks around Northland. In January, dogs killed 14 ewes and more than 100 lambs in a single attack near Kaikohe. Most of Mr Holland's dead ewes were pregnant, meaning spring lambing numbers will be down. "I need those lambs to pay my mortgage," he said, adding that the emotional stress was also taking its toll. "The ones up the hill, they're awful to look at. Their insides have been chewed out. It makes you want to throw up." Mr Holland's neighbour shot at the two dogs he saw attacking sheep yesterday morning, wounding each on the shoulder. Mr Holland's said the Far North District Council should do more to catch unregistered, out-of-control dogs, but spokesperson Alison Lees said the council had two animal control officers in Kaitaia working to the best of their abilities. Solutions to sheep-worrying include dog traps or door-to-door dog checks in the area. Farmers can shoot offending dogs if they catch them with stock.
