The Circle of Life ain't no Disney movie

Thats right folks sorry to break it to you. There are no brightly colored characters singing a wildly popular tune while dancing around. Never in history has man failed so miserably trying to eradicate another living thing as much as he has with the coyote. The endangered species list grows daily but you will never see the coyote on that list. They are crafty pests.We have lived at this place for three years now and we have never had coyote problems. A couple of weeks ago they killed on of my ewe lambs and every since then my sheep have been living in terror. I have been desperate to find a guardian dog that could go to work ASAP. Never around when you need them. At this point I was ready put a drag on a Cocker Spaniel and put it in with the sheep. All I need is something that will bark. Into my life comes Strider. A stray at the Red Deer county pound. A temporary solution that may be permanent.

Strider is a two year old Akbash. In hopes that he will be one of those great rescue stories I picked him up yesterday. His life has been turned up side down. He did break free last night. Today we moved him to a more secure pen and has stayed in. He is people orientated but I am hoping his instincts kick in. At one point today I was worried because he was glued to the gate closest to the shop and the kennel. But in an hour I looked out and he was back with his sheep.

You can see him on the right sleeping as close to the sheep as they would let him. My sheep are not used to a guardian dog. Every time he moved closer they would move away. So finally he just went to sleep as did they. By the end of today they had begun to get used to him. I have a line on some trained dogs looking for a home. Strider may have some buddies soon.