Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team has reported that two sheep have died and another has been seriously injured following a recent dog attack.
Police Constable Ashley Tether said on Facebook yesterday (Sunday, January 8) that the attack occurred near Great Barrow, Chester.
He issued a plea to any of those who may have relevant information to contact the rural crime team, as “the owner of the dog did not do the responsible thing, and failed to report the matter to the livestock owner and the police”.
“As we have said it many times before on our page, please keep your dog on a lead,” Tether said.
“We have heard too many times ‘my dog wouldn’t do that’ and ‘I’ve walked this route for years’. However, you can never predict the actions of your dog no matter how well behaved or trained it is.
“It also affects the livelihood of the livestock owner such as the time spent purchasing the animal, rearing the sheep and the other costs involved.
“All livestock attacks we receive in Cheshire are dealt with robustly by the rural crime team.
“So once again, please keep your dog on a lead around any livestock, bovine or other kept animals in fields.”
Dog attack
The news comes after almost 30 pregnant sheep were reported to have been killed in a suspected dog attack in Kent over Christmas last Tuesday (January 3).
The attack occurred between Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26) and 27 dead ewes were discovered.
In a statement, PC Marc Pennicott of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force said the incident was “very distressing” and that it is “possibly the worst livestock attack we have ever had”.
“The sheep would have been petrified and had no way of escaping. [Some] were pregnant with twins or triplets.
“We believe they may have been attacked by one dog but cannot rule out that more dogs may have also been responsible,” he added.
