[ahayes]

It’s very difficult to describe the type of death these dogs were handed. It was easy to see that the wolves want to cripple their prey, torture it and then kill it. I have never seen a worse way for any animal or person to die.

Guess he doesn't realize his dogs are just a step removed from wolves. Dog packs do the same thing.

I wonder what prompted the attack. I know canids in general hate others of the family--wolves will run down and kill foxes just on principle. The other possibility is they really were starving, in which case the population is not being managed properly.

[El Gato]

Guess he doesn't realize his dogs are just a step removed from wolves. Dog packs do the same thing.

In a very real sense, they are the same species. They can mate and are such matings produce offspring. Those offspring, unlike a cross between an ass and a horse, are fertile as well. There are of course behavior and physiological differences, the later primarily related to the estrus cycle of the females, not to mention the wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors and behavioral characteristics we have forced on the poor dogs for our own reasons. None the less, they are the same. Coyotes too for that matter.

[brytlea]

Perhaps they kill them because they see them as competition in their territory?
susie

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Its a territory thing. Lupines hate Canines and vice versa. The Wolves saw the dogs as intruders hunting in their territory and took care of the problem. Wolves are NOT NICE CRITTERS. They are predators. Just as large cats are.
This is the reason when I got hunting I carry my shot gun or rifle and a .45 semi-auto. I also don't use hunting dogs unless going for quail or Pheasant. Bear hunting ain't my thing.

[Conservative Texan Mom]

We're ending up in all the same places. I freepmailed you yesterday with our recent experience with a couple of wild dogs. I just posted it at #25.

It is possible that the dogs were mixed with coyote, or wolf. That does happen out in some of these areas. I wish whoever had owned them had the guts to do away with them instead of dumping them out around ranches. My kids go out in the morning to feed these calves. This happened very early, so my kids weren't out there thank goodness!

This is good! One of the dogs ran off in our back pasture trying to get away. The herd of older cattle sensed a danger, and they surrounded the dog and wouldn't let it gountil my husband caught up to it with the gun. Bye Bye doggie!

For the record. I adore dogs. We have a collie. She's great at staying with my kids, and I have no doubt she would defend them to the death. I don't think that instinct neccessarily applies to cattle though. She is pregnant with the neighbor border collie pups, so we will be keeping two males. They are still great with people, and far more territorial than a female.

[Leatherneck_MT]

"The other possibility is they really were starving, in which case the population is not being managed properly."

The population should be exterminated from the lower 48 if you ask me.