A sheep has been dramatically rescued from a cliff face in Wales after being chased by a dog, the RSPCA has revealed.
The video, filmed on the coast in Pembrokeshire, reminds dog walkers to keep dogs on leads at all times.
The dramatic rescue took place on cliffs near Abereiddy, and involved two members of the team abseiling 50 metres down the cliffs, capturing the sheep and then abseiling further down to the beach below.
RSPCA animal welfare officer Andrew Harris, who lead the rescue, said: “It could have been much worse for the sheep and the dog that chased it over the cliff edge.”
He added: “We urge people to take care around farm animals and ensure their dog is kept on the lead at all times when in or near fields containing livestock.”
“As the weather gets warmer and more people walk their dogs in the countryside, we urge people to take care around farm animals and ensure that their dog is kept on the lead at all times when in or near fields containing livestock,” Harris said.
The RSPCA Cymru officers are no strangers to dramatic rescues; a little over two weeks ago officers had to rescue another sheep that had fallen from a cliff.
Stress and anxiety
The rescue comes amid increasing concern about the devastating effect that livestock worrying and dog attacks are having on sheep.
Livestock worrying is a criminal offence and the penalty can be six months imprisonment and a fine of up to £1000 for the dog owner or person in charge.
Livestock worrying has led some farmers to warn walkers that they will shoot any loose dog which poses a risk to their livestock.
Sheep worrying is causing around 85% of affected farmers to experience elevated levels of anxiety and stress, a survey conducted by the National Sheep Association (NSA) says.
In worst case of sheep worrying in recent history happened in Gloucestershire, when more than 100 sheep were killed in a dog attacked, with polcie describing it as the UK's worst case of sheep-worrying in living memory.
Sussex Police said the sheep, many of them pregnant, had been herded into a tight group against a fence and gate bordering woodland
