Wiltshire Police are appealing for information following two serious incidents of livestock worrying in a field in the Great Bedwyn area.
At 2pm on Sunday 24 November, a dog attacked and killed a ewe and left two others seriously injured. A second incident, in the same field, on Sunday 1 December left a number of ewes seriously injured, in severe shock and distress.
Both incidents happened in a field close to Bedwyn Common in Great Bedwyn.
PCSO Melissa Camilleri, Rural Crime and Heritage Crime Officer, said: “We are appealing to the public for any information on the attacks.
“Unfortunately we don’t have a description of the dog involved but, if you were in the area on either of these days and saw an irresponsible dog owner, we would like to hear from you.
“Livestock worrying is a criminal offence and can be very distressing for the farmers who have to deal with the financial and emotional aftermath of a dog attack.
“To a sheep, your family pet is like a ‘wolf’ and it therefore causes them to worry. It is therefore always advisable to put your pet on a lead, especially if you know it has a tendency to become excited when around livestock."
The penalty can be 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1000. It is worth noting that livestock worrying is not just if your dog bites or attacks livestock. It is also if your dog chases livestock in such a way as may be reasonably expected to cause injury/suffering or not having a dog on a lead or under close control when close by, or in a filed/enclosure with livestock.
It can be traumatic for farmers who have to deal with the aftermath of an incident, not to mention the financial impacts is has. Help officers to protect livestock in Wiltshire by putting your dog on a lead.
If you have any information in relation to the incident, please call Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
