Two sheep have been killed and two more have been euthanised due to the injuries they sustained following a dog attack on farmland in Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said today (Monday, April 24) that two dogs were seen chasing sheep at the site on Thursday morning (April 20).
The dog owners have agreed to financially cover the costs of the loss, with the force saying the incident serves as a “timely reminder of the damage and suffering” that dog attacks can inflict on livestock.
The force has used the incident to remind dog owners to keep their pets under control to prevent sheep and livestock worrying.
“You must ensure a field or area has no livestock in it before letting your dog off lead. It is the law to keep your dog under control and the responsibility falls with the owner,” Gloucestershire Constabulary said.
“Allowing a dog to worry or attack livestock is a criminal offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.”
The force said sheep represent a farmer’s income and “are often worth a substantial sum”.
“If they are attacked or killed, the loss that farmers face can leave them substantially out of pocket,” it said.
“Sheep worrying can include dogs attacking animals physically, running after them or chasing the sheep around, especially when they are carrying lambs or there are young lambs within the flock.
“Dog faeces left on grazing land may also carry disease which can kill sheep and affect unborn lambs.”
As a last resort, landowners are able to shoot a dog which they believe is worrying sheep, the force warned, but “nobody wants to see this outcome”.
Gloucestershire Constabulary provided advice for owners when walking their dogs in rural areas:
- Always ensure your dog is under control in an area where there are livestock or wild animals;
- Be particularly vigilant during lambing season and always keep dogs on a lead during this time;
- If your dog is not good with other animals or people, avoid letting them off their lead when others are around;
- Don’t allow people who may not be confident in doing so or have full control over the animal to walk your dog;
- Remember where there may be no livestock in a field one day, the same location could be full of animals the next.
