by Alan Quick

CREDITON Police have been investigating three recent incidents involving dogs attacking sheep in the area in just 10 days.

In the most recent attack at Lapford on Sunday, April 24, eight pedigree lambs were attacked and killed.

The police say this crime is currently being dealt with by local officers as all parties are in contact with each other, including the dog owner.

Just a few days before, a dog described as similar to a golden retriever and wearing a brown collar, killed 10 lambs, also in the Lapford area.

The first recent incident, as reported in the “Crediton Courier” on April 22, between Higher Road, Crediton and Sandford, resulted in two lambs being attacked and injured by a dog.

The dog in this incident was described as being brown in colour and similar to a lurcher/husky cross.

Local farmers, Jim Stephens and his son Jonathan, issued a plea to Crediton dog owners to be responsible and keep their dogs on leads when walking on footpaths through fields near the town.

Jonathan said he had received a telephone call to say that a dog was attacking two of his seven-week-old lambs in a field on land at Combe Lancey, near George Hill, Crediton.

He immediately rushed to the field and found that a dog, observed by a local resident, had attacked the two lambs, resulting in one sustaining severe bites to the neck and the other with a broken leg.

Jonathan explained: “The person with the dog was actually trespassing in a fenced off field.

“A witness called me and I found the lambs severely injured and the ewe had been chased as well, running for her life, and was in a distressed state. The dog owner was seen running from the scene afterwards with the dog.

“Why dog owners do not keep their dogs on leads when near livestock is beyond me.”

Jim Stephens said that all three of the sheep were suffering from shock.

He said: “A dog off a lead can do a lot of damage in half-an-hour.

“Dog owners, particularly at this time of year when there are ewes and lambs in fields, and cows calving, MUST keep dogs on leads.

“If in doubt, put your dog on a lead. This is the worst incident we have had.”

The police would like to hear from anyone who can help in tracing the owners of the dogs involved in these recent attacks.

The crime reference for the Crediton/Sandford incident is CR/024977/16 and the reference for the Lapford incident where 10 lambs were killed is CR/025991/16.

If you can help, please telephone the police on 101 and quote the relevant crime reference.

Crediton Police also issued a warning to dog owners.

A spokesperson said: “If you are walking your dogs in public, please ensure that your dogs are kept on a lead and under control when in the vicinity of livestock to prevent incidents such as this from occurring.”

Crediton Police Sgt Dave MacFadden said after a previous incident: “Please can every owner who walks their dog out in the countryside be respectful of livestock in fields and place their dog on a lead as they approach. This will undoubtedly cut down on such incidents.

“If any member of the public witnesses a livestock attack by a dog they can make contact with us by either emailing: [email protected] or telephone 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous.

“Please try to include as much of a description of the dog and owner as possible so we can investigate the incident and hopefully bring them to justice and seek compensation for the victim.”