Two lambs and two sheep died because of out-of-control loose dogs over last weekend in three separate incidents.
An ewe was killed on Sunday (7 May) in an attack on British Camp, Herefordshire leaving two young lambs orphaned and needing to be bottle fed.
In a separate attack on the same day, and a few miles from the first incident, a lamb was killed on Castlemorton Common, Worcestershire.
And at least two lambs died and a dog had to be put down after a series of sheep worrying incidents in North Devon.
Bideford Police issued the following warning on Facebook yesterday: "Last weekend we had a number of calls regarding dogs down on Northam Burrows worrying livestock.
"This has resulted in at least two lambs being killed and one of the owners responsible choosing to put their dog down. Allowing your dog to worry livestock is a criminal offence. Please keep your dog on a lead when walking around livestock."
'Heart-breaking'
Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets under control around livestock as the lambing season reaches its peak.
Kathy Peebles, NSA Scotland vice-chairman, said: “For farmers, as well as lost income, it is heart-breaking to witness horrendous injuries in the sheep they work hard to look after.
“For pregnant ewes, the result of being hounded by dogs can be miscarriage of unborn lambs and for ewes with young lambs at foot the result can be offspring getting separated from ewes and dying of hypothermia or starvation."
Earlier this month, 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.
