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Police live-tweet dog attack to highlight sheep worrying

Philip Case 27 June 2017
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One sheep was killed and two others were injured following a dog attack in Wales on Monday (26 June).

The incident happened after two Jack Russell dogs escaped from a home and attacked a flock of sheep in north Wales.

Officers from the North Wales Rural Crime team gave regular live tweets of the incident on their Twitter site Monday afternoon.

See also: The law on shooting dogs – critical facts farmers must know 

As a result of the attack, one ewe died, one lamb suffered facial injuries and a third sheep was found limping with back injuries.

PC Dave Allen, rural officer for Conwy & Denbighshire, said: “The dog owner admitted it was his dogs that did it.

“The owner will pay the victim compensation for loss of stock, disposal costs, vet bills, etc.”

It was the first time the dog owner had come to the attention of the police, he added. “Most importantly, the victim is happy, so we dealt with it that way.”

‘No winners’

PC Allen said the loss of the sheep and its disposal would cost the farmer about £200.

Rob Taylor, rural crime team manager, said police should not have to be dealing with these incidents.

“We shouldn’t have to deal with this, should we really?” said Sgt Taylor, speaking in a live tweet.

“Owners should have more responsibility for their dogs. If you are going out during the day, make sure you know where your dog is and if you are walking them, use one of those long things called a lead.

“It enables sheep to be alive and farmers not to have to put up with this ongoing problem, which is harrowing for them and everyone involved.

“There are no winners in this. All we are going to find is that there are more dogs destroyed and we keep going around in circles.”

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