The issue of livestock worrying has surfaced again after a farmer had to shoot two dogs dead that were attacking his sheep.
Greater Manchester farmer Stuart Alderson found two dogs attacking his sheep on Friday morning (19 January).
The dogs had escaped from a a property backing onto the countryside. They separated five breeding ewes from the rest of the flock, enclosing them.
He is now urging other dog owners to make sure their pets are on leads at all times when near livestock, especially as lambing season approaches.
Mr Alderson told Bury Times: “It was awful to have to shoot them. I tried to get the dogs off the livestock but they kept going back.
“The dogs would not leave the sheep alone, I had no choice. It was upsetting to have to do it.”
Four of the five sheep are recovering, although Mr Alderson said the dog bites are "so deep".
The owner has since apologised and said they will pay the farmer any costs he may face.
'Last resort'
Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence.
The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce or being at large in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.
To protect their livestock, the farmer has the right to kill the offending dog.
The National Sheep Association 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.
Farmers must also report the shooting to the police within 48 hours.
Recent dog attacks
Dorset Police are appealing for information after an incident of sheep worrying left a sheep "motionless on the floor". The incident happened last Friday (19 January).
Last Thursday (18 January), Lincolnshire Police released a statement seeking information after an out-of-control dog attacked 17 sheep which left three of them dead.
On 16 January, Lancashire Police released a photo of an unattended dog attacking sheep on Lancashire farmland.
Earlier in January, a farmer shared images showing her dead sheep which gained considerable coverage on social media, having been shared more than 10,000 times.
She released the photos in a bid to highlight the devastating consequences of livestock worrying.
