A Wiltshire farmer has shot dead a dog which ran havoc and savaged two of his sheep.
The incident happened near the Kennet and Avon Canal on the outskirts of Trowbridge on Sunday (25 June).
Early morning fisherman spotted the dog running wild, and alerted the farmer. The dog was cross-breed.
It is believed the dog, which was a strong rescue dog weighing around 50 kilos, managed to escape off its lead and somehow managed to get its muzzle off.
Farmer Richard Young, from Upper Westwood, then shot the dog and some of his sheep which were severely injured.
Mr Young said the whole incident had been 'deeply upsetting'.
By law, dogs must be controlled so that they do not scare or disturb livestock or wildlife.
The National Sheep Association said it recommends that farmers only shoot dogs as a last resort, as the legality of a shooting depends on whether a farmer had a lawful excuse for shooting the dog in that individual circumstance.
Previous cases
In the past few months, two farmers have shot dead loose dogs. A farmer from Aberdeenshire shot dead a dog which killed two of his sheep, and a farmer from Fife shot dead a loose dog which attacked his livestock.
A farmer from Hertfordshire said due to the recent rises in sheep worrying cases, he said that he won't 'hesitate in shooting in future'.
On 2 May, it was reported that out of control dogs massacred thirty lambs on-farm in Wales, prompting the farmer to share a picture of the incident as a warning to others.
Dog owners are being reminded to keep their pets under control and on a lead whilst walking in or near fields with livestock in them.
