A FARMER is pleading with dog owners to keep their pets on leads around livestock after two of his sheep were mauled.

On Saturday afternoon, John Wood went to check on his sheep and discovered a ewe and a ram had been attacked. The ewe died shortly after from its injuries.

John, 44, who runs Merley Hall Farm on the border of Poole and Wimborne, has been dealing with the problem of sheep worrying for years.

However, this latest incident will likely have a significant impact on his livelihood.

He explained: “There’s 150 sheep in the field where this particular attack happened.

“The ewes will have only just conceived so any stress could result in them aborting. This is the time they’re the most susceptible so it’s most critical they don’t get chased.

“I don’t know the full financial impact yet, but a similar number were attacked a few years ago and it cost me £6,000 with the lambs lost.

“It’s not just financially affecting me, though. There’s also a welfare issue – the sheep would have been in a lot of pain. The one that died had a big hole in its cheek and both its ears ripped off.”

John said despite putting signs up in his field asking dog owners to use a lead, he struggled to get the message across to everyone.

“It should be common sense, but some people think their dog will be fine. But if the sheep run, the dog’s instincts kick in and this is what happens.

“We’re semi-unfortunate because of our location so we probably get a lot more public passing by than a lot of farmers, but this is a national problem and it’s definitely got worse. I’d say 90 per cent of the farmers I know have had a similar incident.”

John said he had spoken to an eye-witness who had seen a black Cocker Poodle-type dog attack the sheep.

“Apparently, once the bloke finally got hold of his dog, he made off. I’ve reported it to the police. But I want the dog owner to take responsibility for what’s happened – it would be nice to have an apology."

John added it would always be a “last resort” if he had to shoot a dog attacking his livestock.

“I don’t hate dogs and I don’t wish them any harm. It’s the owners which need to take responsibility.”

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The act covers attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce, or being off a lead in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.