A dog owner has agreed to pay a farmer’s veterinary costs after their husky-type dog attacked a flock of sheep.
The incident occurred in Dunnington, York in the UK, on Monday (February 8th) afternoon.
According to a statement from North Yorkshire Police, the husky-type dog ran through a hedge and into an electric fence into a field, and attacked two sheep.
Dog attacks sheep
One suffered a severe leg injury, and the other fled until it collapsed with exhaustion. The cost of treatment “could run into hundreds of pounds”, the spokesperson outlined in a statement.
The owner of the sheep spoke to the dog’s owner, and called North Yorkshire Police.
Officers attended, and, with the agreement of the victim, issued a community resolution – as part of which, the dog owner will cover the cost of the vet’s bills.
Appeal to dog owners
PCSO Caroline Saville, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “With lambing season approaching, it’s more important than ever that all dog owners take responsibility for their animals.”
“I can’t emphasis enough how vital it is for dogs to be on leads and under control when walking near livestock, and kept securely when at home.”
“The last thing farmers need right now is to have to deal with their sheep being attacked and seriously injured or worse – not to mention the economic impact on their livelihoods.”
Woman drives off after her dog attacks sheep
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police are investigating a livestock attack in which one sheep was “pinned to the ground” by a dog earlier this week.
The animal injured in the dog attack in Drax, Selby, on Tuesday, (February 9th, 2021) morning, required treatment, according to North Yorkshire Police.
A woman was seen walking her dog on a public footpath on New Road shortly before 8am on Tuesday. The dog was off the lead, and ran across to a field full of sheep enclosed in electric fencing, according to police.
The North Yorkshire Police said: “The dog pinned one of the sheep to the ground. The woman then went into the field and dragged the dog out. When challenged by a farm worker, she returned to her car and drove off.”
“The woman is described as white, with short dark hair and wearing a waist-length navy jacket. The dog was a medium-sized black dog, similar to a Labrador.”
Walkers with dogs banned from farmland
Earlier this week, the IFA launched a nationwide initiative, placing ‘No Dogs Allowed’ signs on farm gates, as reported by us here.
The move comes following a spate of dog attacks across the country.
Speaking on the matter, IFA sheep chairman, Sean Dennehy, said: “There has been a significant increase in attacks in recent months. The message simply isn’t getting through.”
“We also have reports of farmers encountering verbal abuse and intimidation when they remind dog owners of their responsibilities and the dangers of letting their pets off the leash.”
“While we encourage flock owners to report attacks, the list of recent attacks is certainly bigger than we hear about. The injuries inflicted on sheep by dogs are horrific. Often, those not killed have to be put down due to the extent of their injuries. Farmers may be too upset or traumatised to report to the Gardai what has happened,” he said.
Dog owners are responsible for having their dogs under control and must be accountable for them at all times.
