City-slickers ship out to avoid canine fleecing
By CHARLIE GATES - The Press
Relevant offers
Christchurch sheep Gloria and Woolly have been forced out of town by a rogue killer.
Dallington resident Guy Rietveld, who has kept livestock on a neighbouring suburban lot for 28 years, has opted to send his two last sheep to his son's Marshland lifestyle block after a dog killed three lambs last week.
He was also worried about the potential danger for young children "as this dog has a taste for blood now".
Rietveld's lambs, Victoria and Velma, were killed by a dog on Wednesday night. A third lamb, Daphne, was killed on Saturday night.
Rietveld said it was the first time his animals had been attacked.
"It is a shame, because it is so lovely when we see them walking around in the morning," he said.
"It is like living in the countryside when the lambs are there. I will miss them a lot.
"It is lovely that in the middle of Christchurch you can do this.
"All the people on this street love them. The children always stop at the gate to look at the animals."
Resident Kim King lost her six chickens on Saturday night.
"The dog obviously has a taste for blood now because it just ripped them out of the coop, but didn't eat them," she said.
Rietveld said Gloria and Woolly could return from their Marshland refuge if the killer dog was caught.
Neighbours were sad the animals had to leave.
Ruth Henderson said her two-year-old daughter loved the lambs.
"[We] walk past a couple of times a week and pet the sheep," she said.
"It has been lovely watching the lambs grow. It is a bit of the country in the city.
"It is just terrible. It is a shame they are not going to be here."
Lynette Ferriss was also upset. "It's just tragic. My children have enjoyed those animals. It's been a real thing for the community, everybody takes their kids past to feed them".
Sponsored links
Base jumper injured in 30m fall
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Jury sees site where Liberty Templeman's body found
Harawira Maori seats bill 'a mistake'
Wellsford dog massacre inquiry continues
Key 'no GST rise' video emerges
Govt poised to make taxi safety measures compulsory
'Constant breakthroughs' in Hiren Mohini case
Private schools fail to keep lid on fees
Radar 'drone' units used for three years
Billboard used in hunt for taxi driver's killer
Harawira Maori seats bill 'a mistake'
Base jumper injured in 30m fall
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Nintendo pirate just a shy gamer - dad
Crayfish game closed down in Auckland
Palin's ex stars as nude coverboy
Referee says rugby has to change
Operation Titstorm hackers strike Australia
'Lovesick' student sparked airport alert
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Daily trivia quiz: February 10
Eva Longoria in porn Tweet mishap
'Very white' Australian rugby cops criticism
Principal accused of sunburn bribe
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Key confirms GST increase being considered
A pass for Key, but much more to do
King Kong ship meets watery grave
Sanzar and Sky decide it's time to titillate the fans
Should conservation land be opened to mining?
Related story: Outrage as Key signals national park mining