Capital Regional District Compensation to Sheep Producer Not Right

     In February this year, a wolf dog running at-large on Salt Spring Island killed sixteen sheep over two nights on Ted Akerman’s farm. Ted spent a cold night in his truck watching his flock, and at daybreak sighted the wolf-dog and killed it with his shotgun. The dog had no identification, and no owner came forward. Ted filed for compensation with the CRD, and three months later the CRD Board voted to compensate Ted with $750 – less than $47 per sheep. To add insult to injury, Ted found this out by reading his local paper on the ferry. A few weeks later he received his cheque in the mail.

     The CRD bylaw states that the compensation shall be the “lesser of (a) 75% of the decrease in the market value of the animal as a result of its death or injury, or (b) $750 dollars”. The emphasis on “the” and “it” indicates the singular, that is, a single compensation for each animal. The ceiling is based on the fact that some producers may have sheep that are registered purebreds that may fetch a higher price as premium breeding stock. Some purebred registered sheep are worth thousands of dollars, thus the cap per animal of $750. As a benchmark, the federal government’s valuation maximum for sheep is $300 for unregistered sheep and $1,200 for purebred registered sheep. The current market value of lambs is about $200, so compensation by the bylaw formula should have been $2,400 – certainly not $750.

     As a representative of the BC Sheep Federation (BCSF), I faxed and emailed the CRD to inform them of their misinterpretation of the bylaw. I received an email reply from Ken Hancock, Southern Gulf Islands CRD Director, stated that “the interpretation (since the bylaw’s inception) is that the intent of the bylaw is to set a maximum of $750 per incident as opposed to a maximum of $750 per animal”. This was backed up in a letter by Dan Brown of CRD Bylaw Services, who added that local government does not have to compensate livestock owners, citing the provincial statute that says a local government “may” compensate.

     It is amazing to think that anyone would assume that the $750 limit is regardless of the number of animals killed or injured.   According to legal opinion obtained by the BCSF, the CRD is not correct in its interpretation that the total compensation limit is $750. There is also a precedent; in 2003, another Salt Spring sheep producer received $810 for 8 sheep killed by a dog. Garth Hendren, Salt Spring Island CRD Director, was sympathetic to the plight of the Akermans and agreed to have the CRD lawyer review the bylaw, hopefully resulting in a review of the Akerman’s case. Given that back in the 1970’s Salt Spring had over 200 sheep killed by dogs in a single year, the few livestock owners that apply for compensation now are a fraction of what the province used to compensate for.

.     In 1875 in BC, the Livestock Protection Act was passed to help prevent dogs from becoming a nuisance to livestock. The Act replaced the Sheep Protection Act and allowed for livestock owners to shoot dogs that were chasing or attacking their livestock, and to be compensated for losses due to dog attacks. All dogs were required to be licenced and the fees were placed into a consolidated fund to be used for compensation to livestock owners. People with dogs that were either shot or caught attacking livestock were required to pay compensation into the fund, which would go toward compensation of the livestock owner. The Act was repealed in 2003, as it was believed that it was redundant with many municipalities and regional districts that were already licencing dogs and should be responsible for the control of dogs in their jurisdiction, and also responsible for the compensation of livestock owners through the Local Government Act. The portion of the Act that allowed farmers to shoot the dogs attacking their stock was placed into the Livestock Act.

     This has not worked out very well for some livestock farmers and ranchers. Some jurisdictions do not licence dogs, compensate poorly or do not compensate at all. Bowen Island, the location of wolf-dog attacks that were in the news across Canada this year, is one such municipality. When the wolf-dog was finally shot, it did not have a licence since licences are not required there. Bowen Island also does not compensate livestock owners for dog attacks or kills, and does not allow the discharge of firearms.

     The CRD only receives one or two claims per year and budgets approximately $2,000 annually for compensation. In 2007 there were over 7,000 dogs in the CRD and over $128,000 in licence fees collected. In a 2008 staff report dog numbers had increased to almost 11,000 and there were three claims for compensation in four years for only $925 paid out in compensation to livestock owners. There are more dog attacks that occur, but if the dog has a licence the compensation comes directly from the dog owner.

Regional and local governments should understand that one of their roles is to control the dog population through licencing, and with that licence fee there should be fair compensation. The local government that does a good job of educating, licencing and controlling stray dogs will not have to pay out much in compensation. And they certainly should ensure that the compensation is fair to the livestock producer. When local governments talk about supporting local agriculture, they should understand that controlling stray dogs is one way they can help.

     The BCSF has initiated a scan of dog bylaws and a preliminary report will be presented at the AGM of the BCSF in Duncan on October 15^th. All sheep producers are welcome to attend.

Trapper Hired by Municipality Kills Bowen Island Wolf-dog

The wolf-dog that had terrorized Bowen Island residents since December was killed with a single shot by a professional trapper on May 26^th. Al Starkey (AKA “Trapper Al”), a 72 year old Maple Ridge trapper, was hired by the Bowen Island Municipality after attempts to trap or tranquilize the wolf-dog failed. Several pets, livestock and deer had been killed over the past several months. Residents had been cautioned to take extra care, and had kept children and pets indoors.

Bowen Island does not permit the discharge of firearms, so a special permit was required. Trapper Al selected a farm where the most recent kill had occurred as the site to bait the animal. The morning after his arrival he had sighted and killed it.

In February long time sheep producer Ted Akerman of Salt Spring Island also shot a wolf dog that had killed a dozen of his sheep. He waited in the dark for the wolf-dog to return at first light, quickly sighting and killing it. Salt Spring does allow for the discharge of firearms and according to the the Livestock Act a person may kill a dog if the person finds the dog running at large, and attacking or viciously pursuing livestock.

According to the Livestock Act, the Act and the regulations prevail if there is a conflict between the Act or the regulations and a municipal bylaw. It is not known if the livestock producers were aware that according to the Act they could have shot the wolf-dog themselves.

It is also interesting that on Bowen Island dogs do not have to be licenced, and livestock producers are not compensated for their losses if a dog is not identified. Without a licence, it would be pretty hard to identify the dog unless the owner came forward. This is in contrast to Salt Spring and many other jurisdictions whereby dogs are required to be licenced, and the livestock producers are compensated – sometimes only partially and poorly - by the municipality or regional district if the dog is not identified. In 2003 the Protection of Livestock Act which collected dog licence fees and compensated livestock producers was repealed, and the licencing and compensation was left to the municipalities. The right to shoot a dog chasing and attacking livestock was placed into the Livestock Act. The BC Sheep Federation has begun a scan of bylaws in a variety of jurisdictions regarding compensation for losses due to dog attacks and will be sending a report to the Minister of Agriculture when the report is completed.

National Post: Trapper kills Bowen Island wolf-dog

Tristin Hopper  May 26, 2011 – 2:37 PM ET

This morning, the Bowen Island wolf hybrid was killed by a hired trapper at 6:30 am local time.
Since arriving on the B.C. island last December, the elusive animal has killed dozens of cats, dogs, sheep, geese and left Bowen Island forests strewn with deer carcasses.
“We’re relieved,” said Chris Buchanan, the island’s bylaw services supervisor.
Attempts to trap or tranquilize the animal had failed, prompting Bowen Island officials to hire a professional trapper from the Lower Mainland.
The trapper arrived on the island at 11:30 on Wednesday, and quickly took up position at a sheep farm where the animal has previously struck. At 6:30, he sighted the animal and killed it with a single shot to the head. Residents in a nearby house did not even hear the shot.
The animal’s body was removed from the island by the trapper and will be disposed of by incineration.
The municipality has refused to release the trapper’s name, saying he wishes to remain anonymous. “People in his industry aren’t the Oprahs of the world, shall we say,” said Mr. Buchanan."
published in the National Post, written by Tristin Hopper

Wolf Dog of Bowen Island in the local and national press - killing spree escalates

Bowen Island Undercurrent - Wolf hybrid kills sheep, attacks Charley the pig

The next article mentions Ted Akerman on Salt Spring who killed a wolf-dog that killed several of his sheep, as well as the current situation of the wolf-dog on Bowen that has been killing pets and livestock for months..

National Post - Hunting the Wolf Dog of Bowen Island

Wolf-dog Hybrid Killing Spree Ends on Salt Spring Island

     A long-time sheep producer on Salt Spring Island has reported that a wolf-dog killed 16 lambs on his farm over two evenings, before the animal was shot and identified around Feb 18^th. The owner of the wolf-dog has not come forward. This was at the same time as a report of another wolf-dog killing pets and deer on Bowen Island. The animal was sighted and identified, and the Bowen Island Municipality has hired a professional trapper. Conservation officers do not deal with wolf-dogs, because they are not considered wildlife. Bowen Island does not allow the discharge of firearms, and although there have been several sightings this has made it difficult to make the killings stop. Bowen Municipality has recently posted a notice asking for the public's assistance in the location of the owner of the wolf-dog hybrid at large on the island. Because the animal has killed pets in front of people, and shows no fear of humans, the public are reminded that if they encounter the hybrid they should remain calm, back away slowly, don't run, and take refuge in a safe location. The public are also instructed that they “may wish to take further precautions by not letting small children or pets outdoors unattended”.Bowen Island Municipality Website - Wolf-Dog Notice to Public

      Just before the reported wolf-dog on Salt Spring I received an email from a sheep producer on one of the smaller islands. They reported a wolf had been on Moresby Island, just off of Pender Island where I live. It was seen and heard by the family that live there. It had been on Sidney Island, Gooch Island, then Moresby. As of Feb 11, the howling had stopped and they were alerting me that the wolf may be headed to Pender Island. I sent an email out to some sheep producers, but then heard of the killing of sheep on Salt Spring. There was the possibility of the same wolf doing the killing, but by the end of the week it ended up being identified as a wolf-dog on Salt Spring. I don't know if the dog that recently killed sheep on Pender over several weeks was also a wolf-dog, or what became of the reported Moresby Island wolf.

The last time a real wolf had terrorized an island, killing pets and livestock, it was a few years ago on Saturna Island. For several weeks this went on, before the wolf was spotted and killed on Samuel Island. It was identified as a Vancouver Island wolf.

      It is rare to have a wolf arrive on a relatively predator free island and set up shop, so to speak. The plentiful deer are very attractive to them, but their brazen lifestyle make them a target for man. Or is it rare? Years ago, Vancouver Island had many wolves. From the 1920's to 1950 the wolves were almost completely eradicated, even considered by some to be locally extinct. From 1950-1970 wolf sightings were very rare and deer populations increased. After 1970 numbers increased again, but this time the wolves were predominantly from the mainland, leap-frogging through the network of islands to the north end of Vancouver Island. From there they migrated toward the south end. Wolves were sighted swimming to the smaller islands. In the 1980's, wolves overran Vancouver Island and several attacks resulted in a provincial plan to significantly reduce wolf numbers, primarily to increase deer numbers for hunters.

Recent genetic evidence has verified this migration pattern, and has also shown that a small amount of dog genes are in some wolves sampled on Vancouver Island.. Not a lot, but enough to indicate either natural mating, or reintroduction of wolf-dogs that have been specifically bred by man.

At any rate, the popular trend of owning a wolf-dog as a pet has increased.youtube video of wolf dog on salt spring jan 31st Pups are available for sale by breeders, and for those who are too hard to handle, there are wolf-dog sanctuaries and some of these will offer wolf-dogs for adoption or “rescue”. The SPCA will not put wolf-dog hybrids up for adoption and if such animals are surrendered to SPCA shelters they will be euthanized. In a position statement, the SPCA are opposed to keeping, breeding, and importing of wolf-dog hybrids. According to the SPCA, “the animals are difficult to train or contain, and they show a high incidence of both predatory and idiopathic aggression towards other animals and humans. Any wolf-dogs already kept as pets should be muzzled, spayed or neutered, contained within secure runs, and vaccinated.”

    In December, a Kamloops judge found the owners of a wolf-dog hybrid liable for damages after it attacked a woman. The judge ruled that wild traits of the wolf-dog override, and they are not harmless by nature but are animals of wild nature. It is not known if the wolf-dog attacks on the islands are from at-large pets, or from wolf-dogs dropped off onto the islands because they are too hard to handle, and their owners thought they could “fend for themselves”.