DOZENS of reports of dogs attacking livestock were made to police last year.

During 2018, there were 40 occasions when an owner failed to keep their pet under close control around sheep and cows, officers with Dorset Police's rural crime team said.

By January 5, another incident was reported in East Dorset.

An officer from the team said: "'My dog has never done anything like that before' is repeatedly seen on police incident logs.

"In eleven of these cases, the dog owners were identified and dealt with. Some were given dog behaviour contracts, paid compensation to the farmer or were prosecuted in court.

"Three more cases are ongoing.

"We are five days into 2019 and we have already seen another report of an attack on sheep in East Dorset from a dog that has 'never done it before'."

Livestock worrying is a criminal offence. Owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead at all times around livestock.