Dorset farmer vows to protect livestock from dogs (From Dorset Echo)

Dorset farmer vows to protect livestock from dogs

11:59am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Harry Hogger

Farmer Pete Davies with the sheep which was attacked on his farm by a dog Buy this photo »

A FARMER who has seen nine of his sheep attacked by a dog within a year says he will shoot the animal next time he sees it going after his livestock.

The latest attack at Higher South Buckland Farm near Chickerell saw a sheep badly mauled and Pete Davies says it is becoming a real concern with lambing season around a month away.

He claims his flock have been attacked by the same dog which is walked in the area.

He said: “This was the fourth attack within 11 months and it’s the ninth sheep that’s been taken out.

“It’s the same dog every time, we know who it is.”

Mr Davies, 55, said one of the sheep had to be put down but he has managed to nurse the others back to health.

He said: “We had to destroy one because it had ripped its belly wide open but we managed to save the rest.”

Mr Davies, who has been at Higher South Buckland Farm for 10 years, said the latest sheep attacked was also expected to make a full recovery.

He said: “It’s been badly mauled around the neck and the flank.

“It will recover but it’s going to take time and a lot of antibiotics.”

Mr Davies, who keeps 265 breeding ewes on the farm, said he had actually seen the dog he believes is responsible attacking his sheep in the summer and has threatened to take action if he witnesses it again.

He said: “With lambing season just a month off it’s a bit of a concern.

“If I witness it again I shall shoot the dog.”

Mr Davies said he had informed the police, dog warden and RSPCA about the constant attacks in the hope that they would do something and was hoping for further discussions with local police in coming days.

He added: “We did see it in action in the summer, me and my wife, and the police have been out, but without me witnessing it there’s not a lot I can do.

“I have been speaking to the local officer and I will sort it but it just takes time.”

Mr Davies is not the only farmer to have his sheep attacked by dogs recently.

Last month David Legg was forced to move 300 breeding ewes at Broomhills Farm near West Bay after one sheep had its belly ripped open and another died after being bit in the throat.

In December nine sheep were killed at Balfours Farm in Wool in what farmer Di Brown described as a ‘horrific’ dog attack.

THE Animals Act of 1971 entitl-es a landowner to kill a dog if they believe it is worrying or about to worry livestock and there are no other reasonable means of preventing the worrying. They are also entitled to take action if the dog has been worrying livestock, has not left the vicinity and is not under the control of any person. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act of 1953 states that a dog is deemed to be ‘worrying’ livestock if it is attacking livestock or chasing it. A dog can also deemed to be worrying livestock if it is not on a lead and under control in a field in which there are sheep.