Police in the UK are investigating a livestock attack in which one sheep was “pinned to the ground” by a dog.
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.
Livestock attack
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.”
Officers from North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce are investigating the incident. Anyone with information that could assist enquiries is asked to come forward. Please call 101 and quote reference number 12210056001.
Keep dogs under control
Speaking earlier this year, Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “With lambing season approaching, we need dog owners to take responsibility for their animals.”
“It’s vital that dogs are kept securely when at home, and on leads and under control when walking near sheep fields.”
“Farming is not an easy job at the best of times. The last thing our hard-working farmers need right now is to have to deal with the bodies of sheep who have been attacked and left to suffer painful injuries – not to mention the economic impact on their livelihoods.”
Dog attacks
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the message was echoed by Gardaí, who are appealing to all dog owners to ensure their dogs are kept.
Lambing season occurs during January/February and results in around four hundred incidents per annum with three to four thousand sheep being killed.
These incidents include walker(s), runner(s) and cyclist(s) being bitten by dogs that are allowed to roam free. These incidents cause financial loss to the farming community as well as distress to those involved, Gardaí outlined in a statement.
Advice from An Garda Sióchána:
- Local authorities are responsible and may, under the Control of Dogs Act, appoint wardens to provide shelters, seize dogs, impose fines and take court proceedings.
- Dog owners must have a licence and keep the dog under effective control it outside the house or premises. Owners are liable for injury or damage caused by their dog to people or livestock.
- Since 2015, it is compulsory to have a dog microchipped. They also should wear a collar with the owner’s name and address.
- Stray dogs are dogs that are in a public and unaccompanied by the owner. If your dog is strayed or missing contact your local dog pound directly to check if it is there.
- If you have an unwanted dog contact the local Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ branch, dog pounds/charities and your local authority.
