Scraptoft farmer ‘heartbroken’ as lamb killed in canine attack

A Leicestershire farmer has urged canine house owners to maintain their pets underneath management after a spate of assaults on his sheep.

Will Renner, who farms land at Scraptoft, close to Leicester, stated one among his lambs had been killed and others injured by free dogs over the past 10 days.

He described the recent assaults as “soul destroying”.

Leicestershire Police warned that farmers might shoot dogs attacking livestock.

Mr Renner stated: “We had an an attack 10 days in the past the place one lamb was killed after which we’ve got had two others in the previous couple of days.

“There is nothing extra traumatic than the picture of a canine killing a lamb.

“It’s soul destroying and heart-breaking.”

“Dog house owners are, by definition, animal lovers and it is canine security we’ve got to consider,” Mr Jenner added.

“If a canine is attacking my sheep I’ve to guard them and if meaning having to shoot the canine that’s one thing I’m entitled to do – and would do grudgingly.

“That is the final resort and compounds the tragedy.”

PC Kelly Tones, of Leicestershire Police’s rural crime staff, stated: “The very last thing farmers would need to do is kill some other animal. It’s so preventable.

“Ordinarily we’d see a decline (in canine assaults) over the winter months however this 12 months there was a rise. I do not know why nevertheless it’s a lot worse.

“We are in the course of lambing and we’re having a relentless barrage of livestock and sheep assaults for the time being.”

She urged canine house owners to not stray from public footpaths on to privately-owned farmland, verify fields for livestock, and to maintain their pets on leads.

There have been 16 experiences of canine assaults on cattle within the county since mid-September.

Leicestershire Police stated three individuals had been handled by way of group resolutions, two given conditional discharges, and one taken to court docket.

The pressure stated it had been unable to establish the dogs’ house owners within the different circumstances.