Sheepman fighting to save flock

...But there he was a week ago Friday, featured in an article with the headline, "Ranching, Recreation Collide in the Great Outdoors." The story is about an incident from the summer of 2008, when two of Robinson's dogs were accused of attacking a woman riding a mountain bike. The assault resulted in injuries and a court action that branded Robinson — a good man his wife, Cheri, described to the Times as "a Sunday school teacher who has no record" — a criminal. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor, fined, ordered to pay restitution and, in lieu of jail time, sentenced to 200 hours community service. Now, Sam Robinson is fighting back. Robinson has seen this fight long coming. Slowly but steadily, he's watched civilization's advancements intrude on his ability to protect his sheep. First there was the environmentalist-inspired government ban in the 1970s on all toxicants, meaning you couldn't poison the mountain lions, coyotes, bears and other natural predators of the herd. Next came a crusade led by animal rights groups that resulted in a government ban on steel-jawed traps, followed by outlawing all baiting and scent lures. All that was left for a sheepman to defend his herd was to shoot predators during a legal hunting season or when they were caught in the act. It was like telling a store owner he couldn't lock the door when he went home at night. But then the government advised Robinson of a new option that was enjoying some success elsewhere: livestock protection dogs...read more