Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Dark side of sheep herding

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Over the years in Sun Valley, sheep herding has been observed as an "Old West tradition" and enjoyable to view. Unfortunately, I have seen cruelty to the sheep, horses and herd dogs and feel the public should become aware and report any cruelty observed. I've seen horses with gashed legs, sheep with broken legs being made to continue in pain, and starving herd dogs with cuts.

Just up Lake Creek last week was a herd dog, malnourished with a large pink mass of skin and no hair and extremely tired. When I confronted a herder once on the gash on his horse's leg, bleeding, and on his dog starving with ribs showing, his answer was, "They work hard, no time to eat! Horse OK!"

This is unacceptable. Do the sheep company owners even care or check up on their animals? Obviously not. Hopefully, when people observe any animal cruelty, they will report it to help save these beautiful, hardworking animals. I understand that in the past some starving herd dogs were taken and hidden to save their lives.

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These animals deserve a better life.

S. Noyes

Ketchum