Farmers wild over feral dogs
By ASHLEY GARDINER, rural reporter
27jun03

FED-up farmers are hanging dead dogs by the roadside in disgust at alleged government inaction over the feral sheep-killers.

This year's devastating bushfires forced many wild dogs out of state forests to search for food.
Farmer Simon Gadd has lost 240 sheep in the past year to feral dogs -- about two thirds of his flock.

Mr Gadd said the slaughter had to stop on his property at Burrowye, on the Murray River in northeast Victoria.

He called on the State Government to act. "They obviously need to fence the national park off. That's where they're coming from," Mr Gadd said.

He said aerial baiting would help control the wild dogs, which breed in remote areas.

Twelve dogs have been destroyed on Mr Gadd's property recently, and he decided to hang the carcasses in protest.

"It's a bit smelly, but I put up with it," Mr Gadd said.

He said many fences destroyed by bushfires had not been rebuilt, making it easier for feral dogs to hunt for food.

Graham Clyde, who lives at Walwa, said he has lost stock worth $15,000 over the past three years. "That's a financial burden I can ill afford," he said.

Mr Clyde said other farmers had lost much more and urged the Government to act.

"Dogs seem to be becoming more of a problem, and it won't just go away," Mr Clyde said.

"It's not likely to go away until large numbers are caught.

"The Government has just got to get a bit more vigilant about wild dogs.

"But it takes them too long to make a decision. Instead of having consultations, they should decide to do something."

The issue has sparked a furious debate in the northeast, with the calls for aerial baiting attracting support and outrage.

As part of the State Government's bushfire recovery program, $3.75 million was promised to help farmers build dog-proof fences.

Last week, Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron admitted that fewer than 20 farmers had received fencing assistance.

But the Government said it was doing something about the wild dog problem.

An extra $650,000 had been spent on baiting and employing more doggers, who trap and shoot wild dogs, a spokeswoman for Environment Minister John Thwaites said.

The North East Wild Dog Advisory Group, a body set up by the Government, is expected to soon release a draft action plan for tackling the problem.