Farmer hits out at irresponsible dog owners after cow attack

The steer attacked at Poundbury Hillfort was one of a herd of cattle belonging to John Hoskin from Maiden Castle Farm that had been grazing up at the site throughout the summer.

Witnesses told Mr Hoskin the steer was set upon by two dogs, backing it into the corner of the field and it got its leg stuck in a circular gate.

Mr Hoskin said: “Its leg was badly jammed and we had to use a grinder to cut it free and got a vet to administer the necessary help.”

He added: “It was lucky it did not break one, if not two legs.

“The skin was ripped through to the bone but fortunately it was a clean wound and the vet was able to stitch it all up and it was able to walk off.”

Mr Hoskin said thankfully the animal now seemed to be all right, but it would take three to four days before he could be sure the steer would make a full recovery.

He said: “Those cattle have been there quietly all summer but unfortunately someone has not controlled their dogs and they have done this.

“There are signs there warning people about keeping their dogs on a lead, but they have been ripped off.”

Mr Hoskin said attacks on his livestock were unfortunately a common experience and his lambs and sheep at Maiden Castle Farm were regularly victims of dog attacks.

He said people need to be more aware of areas where they need to keep their dogs on a lead and that they need to be kept under control at all times.

Mr Hoskin said he was grateful to the person who had witnessed the attack and informed him so he could get to the scene in good time and arrange for the vet to attend.

Town councillor David Taylor lives near the scene and saw the aftermath of the incident.

He said he was ‘outraged’ by the attack and said it was another case of irresponsible dog owners giving responsible owners a bad name.

Cllr Taylor said: “It was absolutely awful, I couldn’t believe it. I hate seeing animals in distress.”