Suspected of sheep attacks, stray dogs are in the sights of the Aveyron prefecture

Selon la préfecture de l'Aveyron “il y a des indices sur la présence d'un chien de type Sarloos divagant sur le territoire.” D.R

A slaughter order was issued by the prefect for five municipalities in South Aveyron (La Couvertoirade, L’Hospitalet du Larzac, Nant, Sainte-Eulalie de Cernon and Saint-Jean Saint-Paul).

"I think it’s on the Couvertoirade where there is a dog wandering…" Richard Fiol, mayor of Nant – one of the five municipalities of South Aveyron (*) concerned by the prefectural decree authorizing the slaughter of "stray, wandering or malicious dogs" – sees the measurement as "very focused." And the elected official, also president of the Grands Causses regional natural park, details "not having too many stray dogs. Hunting ones are supervised by their owners. Sometimes some are abandoned by tourists or passing people."

"Simple or reinforced defense shots"

The prefecture of Aveyron, whose decree runs for the period from April 10 to May 10, explains having taken this measure "in order to protect the herds of the breeders concerned or threatened." Are thus authorized "simple or reinforced defense firing, in accordance with the regulatory provisions in force." Firing which is the sole responsibility of the "agents of the OFB (French Biodiversity Office) as well that the lieutenants of louveterie from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m." on the territories of the five municipalities concerned.

Also read: The slaughter of "stray, wandering or harmful dogs" authorized by the prefecture in five municipalities in South Aveyron

In a press release released this Wednesday, April 24, the prefecture adds that"the clues noted by the French biodiversity office in the sector also show the presence of a Saarloos type dog wandering in the territory of the recorded attacks. The physical characteristics of this dog are very close to those of a wolf with which it can easily be confused. This is also likely to intervene on herds and cause damage."

A previous decree in March 2019 in Saône-et-Loire 

Prefectural decrees authorizing the killing of stray dogs remain rare. The last one dates from March 26, 2019. He was taken in Saône-et-Loire after the discovery of the bodies of a hunter and his dog bearing bite marks. The order was canceled three weeks later after action by the One Voice association which campaigns, in particular, for animal rights and respect for life in all its forms.

One Voice confirms, by telephone, that it has also mobilized against the Aveyron decree. "We have filed an appeal, on the merits, with the administrative court of Toulouse. A letter was also sent to the prefect of Aveyron so that he could explain the nature of the damage observed. But as soon as the world of industrial breeding demands measures… hellip; " The fact remains that, in Aveyron in general and the five communes of South Aveyron affected by the order, sheep breeding is not rsquo;nothing industrial.

A wolf "seen several times these days in Sainte-Eulalie de Cernon"

"Make no mistake, currently it’s a wolf who is doing enormous damage to our sheep, rams on the Larzac: already 23 killed and 32 injured since February 1." Mélanie Brunet, sheep breeder in Sévérac-d’Aveyron, president of the breeder’s association Cercle 12, confirms that "a wolf has been seen several times in the town of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon (concerned by the prefectural decree, Editor's note) and its surroundings these days. There is therefore no doubt about who is responsible."

Also read: Wolf attacks on herds in Larzac in South Aveyron raise questions among farmers

For Mélanie Brunet the prefectural decree was taken "only to protect the people who are authorized to kill this wolf to defend the herds just in case. France is a state of law." The president of Cercle 12, an association which has been fighting for years with public authorities and the European Union for the regulation of wolves, specifies that it & quot;It remains to lower the protection status of wolves which is unsuitable for their behavior and their unlimited proliferation. I had the Ministry of Agriculture on the phone again last week on this subject."

On the prefectural decree itself she states that breeders "are also very sensitive to the protection of dogs. We hope that none of these animals close to humans will be killed. We are confident since the mayors have been warned. One Voice is taking advantage of this decree only to try to collect some memberships by trying to make people cry in the cottages."

(*) The five municipalities affected by the prefectural decree are: La Couvertoirade, Hospitalet-du-Larzac, Nant, Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon and Saint-Jean Saint-Paul. I subscribe to read more