Police warning to dog owners after sheep killed in dog attacks (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Police warning to dog owners after sheep killed in dog attacks

9:31am Friday 10th February 2012 in News

Dyfed-Powys Police is urging dog owners to keep their animals under proper control, if they are in rural areas, after several incidents have been reported to the police, whereby dogs have killed or worried sheep in the County of Pembrokeshire.

The Dogs (Protection of Llivestock) Act 1953 maintains that it is illegal for dogs to worry any livestock. In the case of sheep, a dog should not be allowed to enter the same field and thereby worry flocks thereon. Fifteen sheep have been killed and many more worried by dogs in the Boncath area of the Pembrokeshire County. This is distressing for the livestock and farmers that own them.

This is especially important at this time of year during the lambing season. The law allows farmers – who believe their livestock are being worried – to shoot the dogs that are upsetting their animals, in order to protect their livestock.

Sergeant Aled Davies at Crymych Police station said: "Dog owners are reminded to keep their pets under proper control and to supervise them at all times. If dogs are on land worrying livestock then land owners are perfectly within the law and within their rights to destroy the dogs, in order to protect their livestock.”