- By Dan Martin & Ben Jackson
- BBC News, Leicester
A Leicestershire farmer has urged canine house owners to maintain their pets below management after a spate of assaults on his sheep.
Will Renner, who farms land at Scraptoft, close to Leicester, mentioned considered one of his lambs had been killed and others injured by unfastened 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 mentioned: “We had an an attack 10 days in the past the place one lamb was killed after which now we have had two others in the previous few 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 now we have 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 crew, mentioned: “The very last thing farmers would need to do is kill every other animal. It’s so preventable.
“Ordinarily we might see a decline [in dog attacks] over the winter months however this yr there was a rise. I do not know why but it surely’s a lot worse.
“We are in the midst of lambing and we’re having a continuing barrage of livestock and sheep assaults in the intervening time.”
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 stories of canine assaults on cattle within the county since mid-September.
Leicestershire Police mentioned three individuals had been handled via neighborhood resolutions, two given conditional discharges, and one taken to court docket.
The drive mentioned it had been unable to determine the dogs’ house owners within the different circumstances.
