Supervisors Approve Partial Payment for Killed Calves
Appomattox County Supervisors agreed to pay a partial claim to Richard Lee Martin for the loss of four calves. His claim was for $600 but the Supervisors were not convinced that all four calves were killed by stray dogs so only agreed to pay for one.
County Animal Wardens Mickey Martin and Josh Hackett investigated the deaths of the calves and could not determine with certainty that all four had been mutilated by stray or feral dogs. The four Angus calves were attacked in November and December of 2007.
Officers Martin and Hackett set traps and caught five adult dogs and nine puppies but none of them appeared to have been involved in the calf attacks. None of the adult dogs showed traces of blood or had calf hair trapped between their teeth.
A trap set in January by Appomattox Animal Control was destroyed by a large animal, possibly a mountain lion or bear.
In light of this report and lack of dog-kill evidence the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to allow only a partial payment to Martin for his livestock loss. He was reimbursed for one 200-pound calf at the rate of $1.29 per pound.
Because it is likely that the other three calves were killed by wild animals, not stray dogs, the Board did not feel that they were the County’s responsibility. Supervisor Sam Carter was the dissenting vote, arguing that the taxpayers should not be responsible for livestock killed by wild animals. Mr. Carter represents the Town of Appomattox.
Supervisor Willie Craft, Appomattox River District, pointed out that the Board approved of payment, a few years ago, for at least one livestock death suspected to be a coyote kill.
The state of Virginia has a bounty on coyotes and there have been numerous sightings throughout the county.
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