Police warn dog owners over sheep attacks

Police are warning dog walkers in Devon and Cornwall to keep their animals under control during lambing season.

Officers said they had received "several reports" of livestock worrying in the mid-Devon area last month - including an incident in Culmstock where a sheep was attacked by two dogs.

Devon and Cornwall Police warned livestock worrying could attract a prison sentence or fines.

The force said the owners did not need to be in charge of the dog at the time to face penalties.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there had been 38 incidents of livestock worrying in the two counties between 1 January and 6 March.

Speaking about the incident in Culmstock, officers said the dog owner admitted the offence and covered the vet costs for the sheep.

The owner received a dog control order, meaning her dogs need to be on a lead at all times outside of the home.

Insp Mark Arthurs said: "Livestock worrying is a highly emotive subject with the farming community, they not only suffer the financial implications of these attacks but the emotional impact too.

"I would implore dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and choose fenced off dog exercise parks to let their dogs off the lead.

"We live in a great area of the country and while I want people to enjoy our rural communities, I need to highlight that livestock worrying could result in a criminal record for the dog owner and the person in charge of the dog at the time."

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