May 1, 2008 -- Dog attacks on Star sheep reflect growing problem

By David Kennard, Idaho Statesman

STAR, Idaho — The killing of three lambs Wednesday by loose dogs roaming Star is one example of a growing problem in semi-rural areas, the head of the Idaho Humane Society said.

Animal control officers captured two of the dogs, but a third is still on the loose.

"It's a big problem in the urban interface areas," said Jeff Rosenthal, humane society director. "People move out to the semi-rural areas and think they can let their dogs run loose."

He said officials do not know who own the dogs but hoped somebody will come forward to claim the animals, which also badly wounded a fourth lamb.

Miles Miller of Star called police about 1:50 a.m. when he heard the dogs attacking the animals.

"I have a great Pyrenees," Miller said. "She woke me up about two in the morning. So I got up and checked on the sheep. I had a flashlight and saw three dogs standing over one of the lambs."

Miller has three ewes and each had two lambs born about three weeks ago, he said.

When animal control officers arrived, they captured an Australian Shepherd and a German Shepherd.

Star police Chief Ken Ramage said he thought some goats also were killed Wednesday morning, but he did not have details on that attack.

Rosenthal said that if identified, the owners of the dogs likely will be cited for having an animal running at large, owning a dog without a license, and owning a dog that attacked livestock. He also said the owner could be charged with owning a dangerous dog under Star's city ordinance.

If that were the case, the owner would have to go through a permitting process before he or she could own the dogs. That would include carrying liability insurance, sterilizing the dogs and putting microchips in them.

Rosenthal said he wasn't surprised to learn the breeds of the dogs involved Wednesday.

"It's common to see the herding breeds attack livestock," he said. "It's their instinct to hunt. I mean, people over the years have tried to breed that out, but even training a herding dog not to attack sheep goes against their nature."

David Kennard: 377-6436