Hi Barnaby,
I live in Scotland and keep springer spaniels. They’re working dogs, and very good they are at their jobs, too. When not working they are walked regularly and have plenty of exercise – there are many fields around my house and the nearest road is a long way away. Last week one of them – Sky, who is the youngest – ran off and disappeared for a few hours. After he returned I received a message from a farmer a couple of miles away to say that a dog answering Sky’s description had brought down two of his sheep and that one of them was in intensive care.
Perhaps you don’t know the rules governing such an occurrence in the farming community: the fact is that a farmer is entitled to shoot any dog which is caught molesting or threatening to molest any of his sheep. I think the only reason this farmer didn’t do so is because I am friendly with his family and very kind to his children.
What should I do? I don’t want to give my dog away but I certainly don’t want him shot either…
Mike
Hey Mike,
If a sheep can go into intensive care then surely a dog can be interrogated. Get the farmer to put Sky in a line up and ask the sheep to stand behind the mirror and positively identify the guilty party. Tell the farmer that if the sheep picks Sky out he can shoot him.
All’s well that ends well.
Cheers,
barnaby
My suggested soundtrack:
Shoot The Dog – George Michael
Sheep – Pink Floyd
Golden Retriever – Super Furry Animals
