‘Heated discussion’ as farmers call for action on roaming dogs

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A group of farmers yesterday demanded stronger action from the council’s animal control section over wandering dogs that attack and kill sheep.

They met with council animal control staff, other staff and two councillors in the council chambers to express their anger at the killing of their stock.

It follows the slaughter by roaming dogs of pregnant ewes on several properties in the Patutahi and Whatatutu areas recently.

The Herald has been told there have been multiple incidents and dozens of sheep killed or maimed to the point they have had to be euthanised.

Patutahi farmer Bob Bryson was one of those hard hit last month, when on two occasions roaming dogs attacked and killed around 30 of his pregnant ewes.

He was at yesterday morning’s meeting.

“It was a pretty heated discussion at times,” Mr Bryson said.

“They (the council) have got the message, and know they’ve got to do something about this problem.

“I do believe we made some progress,” he said.

“The council has agreed to police it more, to try to catch these dogs that have been doing the killing.

“I feel it was worth having the meeting.”

Mr Bryson was out with his stock yesterday afternoon and was pleased to see a council dog ranger in his area.

Former Gisborne District Council animal control team leader Pat Collins said back in his day animal control officers visited every property to check what dogs they had and how they were being looked after. They also checked whether the animals were registered.

“The visits to rural areas are not happening now I understand,” he said.

“I also feel the farmers at the meeting definitely got their point across and hopefully the council takes notice.”

A farmer on Wharekopae Road called The Gisborne Herald newsroom earlier this week to say he had to shoot and kill three dogs he had caught worrying his sheep on his property.

“I would say they would have been the same dogs that attacked sheep on another property in the Patutahi area,” he said.

“They were still hanging around after worrying my stock — that was their mistake,” the caller said.

“They were Staffordshire-cross dogs, and appeared well looked after.

“They had no collars and were not microchipped for identification either,” he said.

“It was not nice to have to shoot them. They were nice looking dogs, but there was no choice.”