On the rolling hills of Glenburn Station in rural Wairarapa, 43 lambs lay dead, another four were so badly injured they had to be euthanised, and one was missing.
By Emily Ireland of Local Democracy Reporting
Station manager Lachie McFadzean said it was a scene no farmer wanted to see in their lifetime and a stark reminder of the importance of responsible dog ownership in the rural community.
He recalled vividly the carnage two wandering dogs had unleashed on his flock in June.
The dogs were from a neighbouring property and had been missing for about three days by the time they were spotted and shot on site at Glenburn, McFadzean said.
"You could see by the wounds it had been going on for a few days
"Lambs were chased into gullies and killed, drowned in the mud.
"We heard the barking and one of the shepherds had a rifle and put the dogs down on the spot and then worked out whose they were.
"We did what we could with the light from our quads.
"The annoying part is that the owner knew the dogs were missing and afterwards he said to me he did hear them barking."
Earlier this month, Carterton District Council took the dog owner to court to prosecute him under the Dog Control Act 1996.
A report to council said the defendant was found "guilty on all charges".
He was ordered to pay Glenburn Station $5000, in recognition of financial losses associated with the incident, including insurance-related costs.
Additional compensation of $2000 was also awarded for emotional harm arising from the offending.
The council said the incident involved “significant livestock losses, and represents one of the more serious dog control enforcement matters progressed by council in recent years”.
“Council has now received the court's decision and supporting documentation and is progressing the next stage of the enforcement process.
"This includes consideration of dog ownership disqualification provisions available under the Dog Control Act.
“Council officers are seeking the maximum statutory disqualification period in light of the seriousness of the offending."
McFadzean said the survivors of the 120-lamb flock were no longer fit for “sale to store” after the incident so they would be fattened at Glenburn and would likely have a significantly downgraded value as an end product.
The insurance payout only applied to the lambs that had died and were priced at the present-day market value which was $200 each, not their potential value.
His message to rural dog owners was simple.
"If you lose your dogs, go looking for them.
"If you can't find them, alert your neighbours.
"If you can’t look after them, don't have them."
Carterton District Council’s planning and regulatory services manager Solitaire Robertson said early reporting of roaming dogs gave councils the best chance of preventing serious incidents before they happened.
"It allows us to understand what's happening, work with owners, provide education and offer support where required.
"We understand there's a natural preference not to give us a call, but that can mean a pattern of roaming behaviour goes unnoticed and those early opportunities for intervention are missed.
"A quick and confidential report today could help avoid a much more serious situation tomorrow."
LDR is local body journalism funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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