Wow. That is really scary. I wish you much luck. Jann
Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 11, 2014, at 3:52 AM, "Mark Wintermute" <winterm...@earthlink.net> > wrote: > > I had dogs that made it clear that blood would be shed by anyone messing > with "their sheep". They were poisoned. I had one named Cowboy that lived > for a few days but the vet couldn't save him. The only ones that lived were > the ones that were shy around strangers or were out patrolling the perimeter > of the farm at the time. I currently have eight Great Pyrenees that are > perfect with the sheep, donkeys and llama. They have all developed plenty > of attitude about strangers. It is hard for them to make a distinction > between utility line workers and meter readers from thieves. Any car that > slows down on the county road to take a look at the farm gets told by the > dogs to leave. > > I am up early because I just checked video of the night after having a false > alarm go off. My whole family sleeps in alert mode. Weekends are prime > time for thefts. > > I wish I had never sold lambs directly from the farm. These "farm sales" > just allowed people to case my operation. The thieves know how to use my > gates and pens as good as I do. I have found entire groups of sheep locked > up tight in pens the mornings after thefts. > > My dogs know what guns are used for and stay away from anyone carrying one. > I carry a shotgun for self defense in the middle of the night when > investigating tripped alarms. The thieves know how long it takes for the > sheriff to respond. I can only hope that by chance the sheriff is in my > part of the county when I need him. > > The economy is bad and people are desperate. Please stay alert and safe. > > Mark Wintermute > > Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 11:09 PM > Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Thieves > > That is awful! We have Tibetan Mastiffs guarding our flock. I hope that is > sufficient to prevent such thefts. > > Jann > Sent from my iPhone > >>> On Jan 10, 2014, at 6:53 PM, "Mark Wintermute" <winterm...@earthlink.net> >> wrote: >> >> Hi Mike, >> >> In 2012 the first week of school and while I was work thieves loaded >> up around 30 or so lambs. This year we have lost a little more than >> 50 ewes and many lambs. The 2013 thefts appear to be 1 to 5 animals >> at a time in the middle of the night. We have security system now >> that has proven the thefts are primarily around 2:00 am. Also we have >> learned they drop off one or more "wranglers" and drive away. When >> the "wranglers" have made their selection they call their ride and he >> picks them up. Everything is very quick. There is no visible >> lingering. These sheep are not being sold they are being eaten. To >> be politically correct I will not mention nationality but the sheep is >> butchered, cooked, and eaten all in less than 24 hours with no >> leftovers. It is a party atmosphere where all family and friends are > present. >> >> Mark Wintermute >> >> My oldest livestock guardian dog has basically told me who at least >> one of the thieves are. His testimony won't hold up in court but >> spoke volumes to me. > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
