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Show A Touchy Subject: Dogs and Livestock Range wars between cattlemen and sheepmen are a thing of the past. They are now united in a more subtle but just as bitter struggle1 against domestic dog;. More accurately, the domestic dog owner. With the growth of subdevelopments around established es-tablished grazing grounds, there has been an inevitable rise in the destruction of livestock. To be fair, the losses have been heavy on both sides with the animals taking the fatal rap. in the conflict. The law in Summit and Wasatch Counties is clear. A rancher has the legal right to shoot any animal found "worrying livestock." Quoting Quot-ing directly from Summit County Ordinance 113: It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog to allow such dog to attack, chase or worry any person, any domestic animal having commercial com-mercial animal, or any species of hoofed protected wildlife or to attack domestic fowl. Worry used in this section shall mean to harass by tearing, biting or shaking with the teeth. It continues: Dogs may -be killed. Any person may kill a dog while it is committing any of the acts specified above or while such dog is being pursued thereafter. In an effort to provide a mediating agency between ranchers and dog owners. Summit County created an Animal Control Department consisting of two officers Jane Thompson and Mike Ririe. The officers are on call 24 hours a day specifically to handle dog complaints. Ranchers Ran-chers are encouraged to call the officers rather than handling the offenders themselves. them-selves. Mike's gun is loaded with tranquilizer darts instead in-stead of bullets. But when a dog or a pack of dogs are into stock, few ranchers can afford the time to wait for an animal control officer. Several dogs have been shot this year. Without laying any blame, without discussing irrelevant issues of individual freedom and who was here first, the best policy is to learn the ways of the West, the sheep are back, there are new calves in the fields, keep your dog at home or by your side. Remember good fences make good neighbors. |