THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS. 



This conversation of my neighbors shows the way the 

 current is setting, on the dog question, and the progress 

 the reform is making, under the new laws, and especially 

 under the high prices of wool and mutton. This last, I 

 think, has more to do with dog killing, than all the laws 

 that have been enacted. With wool at a dollar a pound 

 or in that neighborhood, every body that owns land wants 

 a few sheep. Even Jake Frink rubs his eyes and wakes 

 up to the fact that sheep raising will be a profitable busi 

 ness. Sheep will live and do well on his poor pastures 

 w^here his cows grow poor. He will bluster, of course, 

 when he learns that his dog is killed, but he will be re 

 signed and conclude that his sheep as well as his neigh 

 bors will be safer with that sheep trap out of the way. 

 A large number of poor farmers, and rather poor citizens, 

 who have the dog mania, will invest in sheep, and that will 

 make them the natural enemies of dogs. I have noticed 

 that it makes a mighty deal of difference whether it is 

 your sheep or your neighbors that are bitten or killed. 

 Resignation is a virtue easily practised when a pack of 

 dogs get into your neighbor s flock, and worry and slay. 

 But Avhen you go out some fine morning and find your 

 fattest wether half eaten up, or your full blood merinos 

 made into mutton prematurely, it stirs the blood at once 

 against dogs. You owe the whole race a grudge. You 

 think of steel traps, bullets, and small stout cords in close 

 proximity to dogs necks. You talk fiercely and threaten 

 vengeance. Men in such a humor are prepared to legis 

 late rationally upon the dog question. They see very 

 clearly that one vile cur, not worth a copper to any body, 

 may easily destroy a hundred dollars worth of their prop 

 erty in a single night. With sheep at two or three times 

 the old prices we shall not only have good dog laws, but 

 we shall have men that will execute the laws, and the 

 dogs at the same time. The old arguments on this question 

 are just as good as any new ones that can be brought for- 



