Farmer loses $1 million worth of goats to stray dogs

A farmer in Rock River, Clarendon, is crying out for help after he said stray dogs viciously attacked and killed 10 of his goats on January 17, costing him $1 million.

Chester Muirhead, a 39-year-old certified plumber, who devotes most of his time to farming, said dogs have been killing people's animals in the community for some time.

"A lot of persons will get dogs and then don't feed them, so they become strays and roam all over the place until them start antagonise the farmers," he explained. Muirhead, who lost eight large rams and two pregnant goats, said the dogs are vicious.

"I remember a dog killed one of my uncle's donkeys. Imagine how a donkey big, and a dog kill him!" he said. Muirhead, who pens his animals some distance from his home, said the attack occurred overnight.

"Because the rams fight, I separate them by putting some on the outside of the pen. But there are many houses nearby, so I didn't expect dogs to come so close. A gentleman say him hear dog and goat a bawl, but him did fraid fi come out because him neva want people to see him and think his dog was responsible," he told THE STAR. The loss has been devastating for Muirhead, who said he has a few female goats left.

"So I will have to just make them breed up back and start over. I have four kids, and I don't really have my own place as yet, so the plan was to use the money from selling those rams to start buying material to put up a one room," he reasoned.

This is not Muirhead's first blow as a farmer. Last July, Hurricane Beryl destroyed several of his crops and weakened his herd.

"With the persistent rains after Beryl, the rams developed diarrhoea, so I didn't bother sell them. I just drenched them. As soon as them put on the weight and price start go back pon them, the dog them come in and kill them," he lamented. Muirhead said his efforts to get help from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority have been futile.

"There is no help for farmers with this problem. For farmers who can afford it, I advise you to build proper pen to keep the goats inside at nights. In the day while grazing, pay attention and don't let them stray far because the dogs also attack in the middle of the day. My friends lost two goats recently in broad daylight while they were grazing," he said.

The Dogs (Liability) Act of 2020 makes dog owners liable for any harm to livestock or property caused by their animals, but proving ownership of stray dogs is a major challenge.

"The Government can do more to help farmers with this dog issue because nobody nuh know the dog dem or who own dem," said Muirhead. "They can set up a programme and go round to catch the stray dogs, especially in communities like mine where there is a lot of animal killing. We try fi protect our animals, but some of us farmers, we can't afford wires to fence up an area. So the MPs and councillors can step in and give us some help with that."

According to Muirhead, some stray dogs have become feral and pose a threat even to farmers who try to save their livestock.

"When the dog dem kill the goat, them don't eat the meat - them just drink the blood and gone," said Muirhead, who added that he is hoping to rebuild his herd.

Persons wishing to assist Chester Muirhead may contact him at 876-799-5822.