Balloon Tree Pack Blamed For Injuries To Guard Dogs

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says two Kangal guard dogs were insured in Union County by the Balloon Tree Pack. A sheep herder reported the two insured dogs Friday morning. The herder told investigators that at approximately 2:00 a.m. on October 1^st, he had heard a fight between his guard dog and an unknown predator that included barking and growling.

Both dogs were examined. One dog had an approximately 6” long area of matted blood on the throat and left side of the neck, that was dripping blood onto its front leg. This dog was agitated and could not be restrained for further examination. The second dog had a bite puncture ¼” in diameter on the inside of the front right leg near the elbow. It also had two ¼”-3/8” inch diameter bite marks with an associated 3/8” wide, 2” long tooth scrape on the inside of the upper right rear leg. The observed bite wounds are consistent with a predator attack.

ODFW said the size and location of wounds are similar to other wolf/livestock guarding dog conflict investigations. Just a day earlier, the Balloon Tree Pack was blamed for a recent attack on 12 sheep in Union County.

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