A farm in Cheshire has had 30 sheep killed in what was described as an ‘atrocious’ dog attack by Cheshire Police.
The attack is believed to have happened between the evening of December 24 and the morning of December 25.
A statement that is posted on the Cheshire Police and Rural Crime Facebook page read:
“PC Marson and I have been out to the death of around 30, yes thirty poor ovine livestock [sheep] following yet another abhorrent sheep-worrying incident.
Only limited actual bloody attack wounds are present indicating a dog [or dogs] have chased and worried the majority of the sheep to stressed and panicked exhaustion.
30 animals were killed in the attack, representing a loss of thousands of pounds to the farmer.
Image source: Cheshire Police
“The attack is not only an animal cruelty criminal offence but is a huge loss to the farmer,” the statement continued.
“This attack with the limited injuries is a case in point to illustrate that dogs need not be ferocious or actually necessarily physically attack livestock to cause catastrophic results.”
46 sheep killed in dog attack
In another dog attack incident, police in Suffolk have launched an appeal for information after loose dogs killed 16 sheep and caused injuries to a further 30 sheep that will require the animals be put down.
The incident happened in the East Bergholt area of Suffolk on the evening of December 20.
Sergeant Brian Calver from the Rural and Wildlife Crime Team said the incident was “by far the worst case of an attack on sheep” the force had come across.
“The suffering the animals must have gone through would have been terrible.
Dog ownership is a responsible thing so please remember, dogs that are allowed to worry livestock on agricultural land is an offence under the Dogs Worrying Livestock Act.
“Anyone who saw the dogs that were responsible or can describe them please get in touch with us.”
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Suffolk Police station, quoting crime reference 37/73715/20.
