Dogs that attacked sheep ‘marking their territory’
The pack of dogs that are attacking sheep in Mġarr may be marking their territory or following their instinct to catch prey, according to a dog behaviour expert.
Robert Spiteri said it could also be that it was only the leader of the pack who followed his prey drive and the others followed. Catching that leader could disperse the pack, he said. Over the past week Mġarr farmers have found their sheep butchered by wild dogs that lurk about in the area.
At least 16 sheep have been killed at six farms and many others were injured, including several pregnant ones.
It is not clear what breed the dogs are and how many form the pack as reports varied between two and three dogs.
Tessie Bugeja, a farmer’s wife, said that a neighbour told her she had seen three dogs – two brown ones and a greyish one. She said farmers were closing their animals inside their pens to ensure they were safe.
Animal welfare department director Joseph John Vella said his department first received reports about the sheep attacks in April.
The report was of two dogs but no description was given. Inspections were carried out but the dogs were not tracked down.
Animal welfare officers are carrying out inspections in the area and are in touch with a farmer who will contact them if he spots the dogs.
One of the problems is that the dogs have a wide roaming range and, unless caught in the act, it was difficult to determine whether a particular dog found in the area had attacked a sheep.
Police sources said officers were also keeping a lookout for the dogs during their regular patrols. They too had no description to go by.
Mr Spiteri, who is also a dog trainer, said given that the dogs were not eating the sheep they hunted, one could rule out hunger as a reason for the attacks. This left another two general options: territory and prey drive. The dogs could just be attacking the sheep to mark their territory. They could also be giving in to their prey drive – an instinct which many domestic dogs lost.
He said this drive did not necessarily manifest itself into hunting and killing. Collies, known for their friendly temperament, had a very strong prey drive which they used for herding.
Mr Spiteri stressed that the fact that the dogs attacked the sheep did not automatically mean they would attack people.
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paul camilleri
Sep 30th 2012, 13:27
yesterday on the news it was reported that a woman sighted strange lights Dingly/ Mgarr area , could it be that aliens have landed and were a bit hungry???
Brian Farrugia
Sep 30th 2012, 09:35
The sheep were attacked by the wild man of Malta.
Joseph Gerardi
Sep 30th 2012, 08:44
Listen to what the sheep are singing 'Four legs good. Two legs bad.'
It might be somebody on home-visits forcefully trying to convince the lost sheep.
Doris Sarlo
Sep 30th 2012, 08:28
Could there be a danger to people? Could these dogs attack people?
Jay Oatmon
Sep 30th 2012, 08:16
I fail to see how/what 'marking their territory' impacts these sheep attacks - are we supposed to say "oh well that's their nature" and walk away? No - we do what is done in farming communities all over the world we shoot the dogs that attack the sheep.
Next some idiot will say it was the sheep's fault because of their provocative behavior (rather like the recent daft domestic violence comment).
paul camilleri
Sep 30th 2012, 07:00
in view of last nights news where a woman said she say bright lights decending somewhere near Mgarr could it be possible that the aliens have landed for a bite to eat?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 23:45
@ Martin Galea De Giovanni
i also fish. is that according to you "unnecessary suffering to other creatures for your own egoistic habits, and in a rather arrogant way" since i would defend fishing in the same arrogant way according to you.
The last person I aim to impress is you and your sort.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 30th 2012, 22:40
...sure I never ate a fish in my entire life.
Glad you're not trying, for you'll probably only succeed to impress fellow dinosaurs.
Chantelle Mifsud
Sep 29th 2012, 22:23
The inner wolf emerged ..
S. Camilleri
Sep 29th 2012, 21:27
Maltese chupacabra! .....
A Spiteri
Sep 29th 2012, 21:12
i heard that sheeps are now organising themselves and will have their own NGO that will work for diversity among animals!
Jay Oatmon
Sep 29th 2012, 20:17
I would get some decent licensed shooters to stand by the sheep and shoot the dogs.
J Cassar
Sep 29th 2012, 21:33
The government needs to get dedicated people to look out for stray /unattended dogs and get them sheltered. Killing living animals is a horrible thing to do. That's all we need now, gun happy morons killing dogs!
Romina Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 22:55
...new dogs will definitely emerge. Far too many stray dogs in Mgarr and especially in Zebbiegh area. Some owners just feel like letting their dogs roam freely in our streets for hours sometimes days. I've seen them with my own eyes (I live at Zebbiegh) somedays they put a water bowl near their door and let the dogs outside ( dogs foul the street and the people responsible never clean and this counts for sheep and horses as well ). Almost everyday I see a couple of dogs locked up in chains near a door step. I wonder why these people own dogs?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 19:48
Can we hear the theories of all those that doubt that feral dogs are the culprits? Clearly not being that conversant with country life i suppose you blame it on some escaped tiger or dinosaur!!!
Let's hope this menace is eradicated soon and that the responsible owners are brought to justice.
Considering the comments against hunting and gun owners, those interpreting this as some form of trigger happy solution are free to volunteer to house any such dogs as family pets.
My greatest suspicion is that the law whereby the chipping of dogs has become a legal obligation has resulted in several abandoned dogs. Why this is not offered for free unless dogs are neutered is pathetic and can only result in more similar cases.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 19:39
@ Martin Galea De Giovanni
"it's no use arguing with people who think they can solve problems with a gun" in the same way that it's pointless arguing with your sort. Live your life the way you think best. That's precisely what i have been doing apart from tolerating your nonsense when i know you are not capable of to reciprocating.
And do take it easy on the vegetables, they have feeling too!!!
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 20:20
very deep and refined comment there .... congratulations !
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 20:45
...and yes I'm generally very tolerant with people living their own life as they think best, only that in your case you are creating unnecessary suffering to other creatures for your own egoistic habits, and in a rather arrogant way (whilst probably thinking that you are some macho-man that so many people would admire). Sorry but you fail to impress me and many others who prefer not to bother with you in particular.
Rosalie Freestone Bayes
Sep 29th 2012, 18:46
If it is true that this dreadful catastrophe has been done by dogs, then shame on the owners of these now unruly creatures. As though there are not enough abandoned animals on the island, and decent people trying their best to look after them and contain them, we seem to have more being thrown out at the bat of an eyelid. Why can't these owners have the decency to go and give them to the sanctuaries and at least be truthful and say they cannot keep them. NO...they take the cowards' way out and throw them out. Time for others to name and shame them.........hopefully to receive a punishment or a huge fine.
Vince Cachia
Sep 29th 2012, 18:43
Leave those dogs alone they are only marking their territory!!!
Joe M Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 20:02
Vince, you probably MISSED the point: these sheep are the livelihood of the farmers andtheir families! Would you say the same thing if it was YOUR livelihood that was being destroyed? Grow up!
Albert Spiteri
Sep 29th 2012, 18:15
If I were the owner of those butchered sheep I'll go out armed with a shotgun, hunt those dogs dogs down and shoot to kill. I'll have all the right to defend what's mine and to eliminate any threat.
GL Calleja
Sep 29th 2012, 18:46
Mr Spiteri are you positive that it is dogs that are butchering these sheep? Nobody has seen them doing it or caught them in the act.
Joe M Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 20:05
You are right, GL Calleja. It might be BENGAL TIGERS, CHEETAHS, or DINOSAURS that are killing the sheep, not dogs. Farmers have SEEN a couple of dogs in the area. Get it? Surely the damage is being caused by carnivores, probably bigger than mosquitoes!
Neville Debattista
Sep 29th 2012, 18:01
@Robert Cassar. Have you ever been walking along the road and have had the misfortune of being suddenly rounded up by a pack of angry dogs Mr.Cassar ? Probably not. Because if you did you would surely not be writing such nonsense. If by any chance you will in the future have the misfortune of meeting such a fate you will understand that although dogs are no tigers or lions they can still make you shiver and shake.
joseph hili
Sep 29th 2012, 17:41
it is very east that these dogs will be caught in a trap
C Grech
Sep 29th 2012, 17:31
This is what we got for reporting back in April! Thank you animal welfare! Farmers at Mgarr are simply furious... And certainly not to blame!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 17:16
@ Martin Galea De Giovanni
Whilst sheep are also intended for slaughter they are not to be savaged by any animal. Thus your comparison to hunting holds no water since hunting is carried out on wild birds that can be sustainably "slaughtered" by the use of legal means such as shotguns. So in exercising one of my instincts i am doing so in a way that is acceptable to many but not to a few like yourself.
If on the other hand you cannot differentiate between dogs savaging sheep and people hunting for food then why not lobby for dogs to be allowed to hunt sheep and protest against articles like these. Is it only hunters that bother you?
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 18:15
You're making a lot of assumptions there... (including that there are many who support your blood-lust instinct)
Anyway, I never really told you what I feel is right or wrong ...so you took the liberty to do it yourself (thanks but no thanks). Anyway to keep it short, I find your "sustainable slaughter" of anything that moves, the dogs slaughtering of sheep and the eventual slaughter of sheep (or other creature) for food equally barbarous for various reasons. The resulting difference to your way of dealing with things is that in your case the result is that birds, dogs, pigeons and sheep are blasted or hacked to death ...but of course it's no use arguing with people who think they can solve problems with a gun.
GL Calleja
Sep 29th 2012, 16:03
Robert Spiteri: Can you confirm that these killings are done by dogs? If so would it be possible for these same dogs to attack humans. These are savage animals that have tasted blood and they cannot be trusted about who or what they are going to attack next. It has happened before, an animal is an animal and it can turn on you in an instant. Maybe Mr Spiteri can explain that better than I do. I suggest this matter be taken very seriously and for the authorities to act quickly to catch these mad dogs.
A Tonna
Sep 29th 2012, 15:48
Is Imgarr as big as the Amazon forest ? How come four stray dogs could not be seen by anybody ?
Smells fishy !!
Joe M Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 20:08
Because there are too many stray dogs running about. In Imgarr there are many farms, hunters, and others who own dogs, and UNFORTUNATELY, some just let them roam freely about.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 15:43
@ Martin Galea De Giovanni
The relation between hunting and these incidents is beyond comprehension.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 16:05
"They could also be giving in to their prey drive – an instinct which many domestic dogs lost." ..apparently an instinct some bipeds didn't lose either ...
Now please, explain to me the big difference between a man hunting birds, and a dog hunting sheep ? (irrelevant of if its good or bad ) ... It seems to me that for you the gun is king ... lets shoot pigeons (flying rats), birds, dogs ... what else next? You sure have thick skin Mr. and an expert in anything that dares to move...
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 15:37
@David Hill & James Mcintosh
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately whenever the word shoot is mentioned in Malta all hell breaks loose with venom from the anti hunters.
If anyone sees putting down such dogs as being the wrong thing to do why not ask to home these adorable creatures!
As is to be expected none of these critics ever leaves the comfort of his armchair.
Robert Cassar
Sep 29th 2012, 16:07
Your Sarcasm is ill place here...Who said that these creatures were adorable?..the point here is that those individuals who threw them on the streets in the first instance should be the first to be blamed for these incidents...
moreover there are many volunteers who work at dog sanctuaries for free, to try to decrease the burden from the shoulders of those who are managing these premises...
Unfortunately there are two many strays on the streets....because Malta still has a large number of heartless individuals who believe that animals have no rights..they are just these for our amusement and service and nothing else...
john muscat
Sep 29th 2012, 15:08
Martin Galea De Giovanni,
I am no hunter myself but you can definitly say if the sheep in questions were shot or were attacked by dogs for God's sake let's be reasonable.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 15:32
Please re-read the message...
..in short: a man can hunt but if a dog hunts then shoot him. Isn't that interesting ? (I just posed the idea for people to think about it. I never said shoot the hunter or anyone else.)
David Delmar
Sep 29th 2012, 14:43
Dear Mr Martin Galea De Giovanni,
If in your opinion you categorise humans the same as dogs,well there's no way that we can end up with a compromise!!!
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 15:44
its a question of values Mr. Delmar .... as long as everything around suit you they're fine; but if some other being does something that annoys you then shoot it... of course unless you're being entertained by such creature on the Discovery Channel... then sure its entertaining you. But why should I be surprised, after all that's what fellow humans wouldn't think twice about doing to their own neighbour or partner ....
What compromise are you talking about ? you came to some compromise with the dog(s) in question ?
H. Galea (NRK)
Sep 30th 2012, 14:45
@David Delmar - How can I ever compare the dog with the human ....never.... I cannot tell how many of my friends let me down / betrayed me. I had NINE dogs - not one betrayal. All loyal, faithful, true and affectionate You are right! very right ...you cannot compare the human with the dog.
Just be patient and wait till you grow older and augment your experience .... then you would, most probably feel the need (for fairness sake) to review what you are writing here today !
Kevin Pace
Sep 29th 2012, 14:38
Prosit din soluzjoni shoot them up. Mhux ahjar jinqabdu u jidahlu go sanctuary u tara ghandhomx tag jew comba.Allahares noqghodu sejrin nisparaw ghal kull haga .
Romina Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 22:37
sanctuaries are full, tista ccempel wiehed wiehed inkluz animal welfare ghax kulhadd hekk jwiegbek.
B Attard
Sep 29th 2012, 14:26
The tendency when these dogs gang together and rip ,tear and kill is ,they usually return the night after cause they assume they will find the same prey at the same place again.
David Farrugia
Sep 29th 2012, 14:19
it is just a wild pack of dogs. round them up and shoot them humanely.
Robert Cassar
Sep 29th 2012, 14:32
Indeed, very humane of you!!! May I ask how are you going to identify that the dog/s in question are the ones perpetrating the attack? If they are aggressive, they should be put down but otherwise I will always try to find an alternative...
Once again the question to be asked is not why the dogs are doing what they're doing? but why we still have stray dogs running all over Malta, especially when considering the fact that most sanctuaries are beyond their capacity?
It is man who is to blame for those incidents...particularly the ones who have abandoned on the streets or in some field, because their kids were fed up with them and went back to play on their play station!!!!
Ivan Calleja
Sep 29th 2012, 14:40
Your reasoning is out of this world!!! Why not shoot the human/s that dumped these dogs or their parents out in the streets in the first place!!!
Ray Mercieca
Sep 29th 2012, 14:12
This is no Joke, some time ago this even happened in the San Gwann, Swieqi and St. Julians area.
Families especially with young children must be very careful when doing pick-nicks or while going for a walk in the beautiful countryside around the Mgarr area, during the coming winter months.
Robert Cassar
Sep 29th 2012, 15:47
Come on, Mr Mercieca, let us not over do it, they are dogs not lions or tigers....Scaremongering is certainly not the solution...
Joe M Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 20:12
Mr Cassar. If dogs get used to attacking sheep, will they think twice of attacking a much smaller child? Do you call that 'scaremongering'? Better safe than sorry, Mr Cassar, unless, of course, since you think that they are safe for children, you take YOUR kids to play there.
Robert Zammit
Sep 29th 2012, 14:08
maybe dog not have food, so attach sheep ...
George Attard
Sep 29th 2012, 14:59
yeah, they 'attach' sheep alright! they attach their K9 teeth to those sheep!! :-)
robert pace
Sep 29th 2012, 16:21
Dogs can be very dangerous , they are not lions but they can bite no and if they vist a playing field were young ones are , they can cause big problems.
David Hill
Sep 29th 2012, 13:55
I have nevere heard so much bunkum.
Dogs use short bursts of urine when they are marking a particular territory,
This can serve as a warning to other dogs that to stay away would be in their best interest. Urine can also reveal a dog in heat and serve as a welcoming invite to dogs of the opposite sex. Finally, marking territory can be a simple act of aggression and dominance
Once a dog starts to wory sheep it becomes adicted to it and will do so at any chance it gets.
In the UK it can be a large problem, see below
"A Mid Wales farmer has been left “devastated” after two dogs rampaged around a field containing ewes and 40 lambs – killing 10 lambs outright and mauling a further 26.
According to Powys farmer, Ray Price, of Penybanc Farm, Howey, near Llandrindod Wells, he found a Collie and a German Shepherd “going berserk” after gaining access to the field by jumping a fence.
Both dogs were shot,"
UK Law -Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953
The law is designed to punish the owner of any dog found worrying livestock on agricultural land.
For this piece of legislation to be used, the dog must be found attacking or chasing livestock or at large, not on a lead or under control, in a field or enclosure containing livestock. An offence is punishable by a fine on the owner or keeper of the dog of up to £1,000.
The Animals Act 1971 can also be used in cases where a dog is caught worrying livestock. It states anyone who is the keeper of a dog that is caught damaging by killing or injuring livestock is liable for the damage. This means the farmer can sue the dog owner for compensation.
In certain circumstances, a farmer or landowner has the right to shoot a dog found attacking or worrying his or her livestock, for example to act for the protection of any livestock if, and only if, either the dog is worrying or about to worry the livestock
Tony Barbaro Sant
Sep 29th 2012, 17:50
Very clearly explained, Mr Hill. Don't these farmers have shotguns? All they have to do is keep watch over their herds until such time as the dogs attack.
Anthony Camilleri
Sep 29th 2012, 13:43
What if they attack a small child. Action needs to be taken against all stray dogs and against dog owners who do not know how to control their dogs.
Ms Sylvia Zammit
Sep 29th 2012, 13:36
Many years ago I was walking my dog near some fields in the area leading from Zabbar to Kalkara. A farmer ran out from a field threatening to kill my dog because, according to this man, my dog had been killing his chickens !If this were to happen today, God knows what my reaction would be -but we might well end up in the news! Back then I was too scared to even tell him that my dog had never even been in that area before. When such incidents happen, I'm always afraid that this will give some hot heads an excuse to kill any dog unlucky enough to get near these farms.
Peter Murray
Sep 29th 2012, 13:33
Two or three dogs do not remotely constitute a" pack" and we need some decisive proof before making such unfounded allegations ands sensationlised reporting as no one can confirm either the number of dogs nor their breed.
James McIntosh
Sep 29th 2012, 15:10
You can always rely on Mr Murray to have the definitive word on any situation, but this time he is mistaken. As one who has lived in the Scottish farming community for many years I can assure you that even two dogs can be assumed as a "pack" especially if of both genders. Dogs will herd and slaughter for no apparent reason other than it is "fun" for them, and once begun it becomes a habit they will not give up. The only solution is capture and disposal or a swift bullet if caught in the act. No bleeding hearts please, there is no cure for a "killer" dog.
If these dogs are pets then the owner is culpable by letting them off the leash around livestock and by not maintaining good control of them, if they are strays then their behaviour will only get more targeted towards livestock killing and they will search for small herds for their amusement, they do not do this for food but for entertainment and will kill a whole flock of sheep as long as one sheep is able to move. I have experience of this behaviour whilst farming with sheep and other livestock in Scotland.
Joe M Borg
Sep 29th 2012, 20:15
Are the dead and mutilated sheep considered as 'unfounded', Mr Murray? You should repeat that to the farmers who lost their sheep.
Karl Consiglio
Sep 29th 2012, 13:32
Like wolves.
Jonathan Deeley
Sep 29th 2012, 13:19
In a wider context, I genuinely feel that Malta has a serious problem with dogs. I used to love exploring the Maltese and Gozitan countryside on foot but ultimately I have given up due to the number of times that my wife and I were terrified by the barking noises and antics of potentially dangerous dogs who were just the other side of a low rubble wall or flimsy fence. I now feel that the only pleasant, safe areas are Buskett and San Anton Gardens. It really is a great shame.
Victor Pulis
Sep 29th 2012, 13:09
The pack instinct never really dies in dogs. A few years ago a pack of about 11 dogs roamed the tarxien Fgura area killing all the cats they could find. One of the attacks happened right in front of my house at 2.00 in the morning. it was frightening to see these dogs round up a cat and tearing it to pieces. They did not feed but left in search of more prey.
James Tyrrell
Sep 29th 2012, 12:57
The only solution to the problem is for the local farmers to get together and guard their flocks at night until the dogs show up, and when they do shoot them. Once a dog has tasted blood it can no longer be considered as a nice little pet.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 15:28
i'm glad you have been so factual about the matter. As you can see some have even allured to my hunting when i was only stating fact. Only goes to prove some thing of animals as the next Bambi or Dumbo!
Unfortunately such dogs can only be put down even though their actions are only the results of their irresponsible owners.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2012, 11:07
I had seen this happen on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, where two dogs actually killed a sheep after having mauled 2 or 3 others in an attempt to bring them down. I was in the company of one of the major sheep farm owners who recounted that in such cases once a dog does it once nothing apart from confinement will stop it happening again. Clearly with such dogs roaming around the area of Mgarr, it would be wise to warn the public especially those with young children to keep an eye out since attacks on humans are not that uncommon.
Dogs retain many of the predatory instincts of wolves, including the chasing of prey. Running away from a dog or behaving in a manner suggesting weakness may trigger predatory behaviors such as chasing or excited attack. For example, the instinct to jerk one's hands upwards away from an inquisitive dog may elicit a strong impulse to grab and hold.
Sadly there is only one solution.
Peter Murray
Sep 29th 2012, 11:47
What proof do you or anyone possess that dogs attacked the sheep-for who has seen this?Who died and made you the God of all understanding and expertise regarding dogs?Allegations ,supposition and conjecture is all I have read thus far apart from your definitive input-based on what concrete information exactly?
Lawrence Attard
Sep 29th 2012, 13:59
Peter, do you have any other suggestions as to what might be attacking and killing these sheep? Since Malta does not have any large predatory wildlife and one assumes there isn't a werewolf roaming Mgarr, I'm curious what else it could be.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 29th 2012, 14:04
I wonder if you'll be so keen to apply the same reasoning (based on many assumptions) to hunters like your dear self ?
paul camilleri
Sep 29th 2012, 16:29
if i know Mr Murry he would probably put it down to cost of living and someone wants to eat sheep free of charge!!!!
Please choose the reason of your report below: