A SMALLHOLDER is hitting out at irresponsible owners after a dog attacked her flock of sheep in Bridport.

Dorset Police were called to the attack near Dodhams Lane on Sunday evening after a large brown ‘Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type’ dog attacked Emma Tuck’s flock of 10 sheep.

As a result of the attack one sheep was killed, two had to be put down because their injuries were so bad, and another was badly injured and needed stitches.

In another incident during the previous week the same flock were attacked, and another sheep was killed.

Mrs Tuck said: “We got a call from the lady who rents the field next to ours and by the time we got there the dog had killed one sheep outright and had savaged the faces of the others, so two had to be put down.

“With the extent of the injuries they will have suffered a lot, their faces are a mess and they are covered in blood.

Mrs Tuck added: “We are only a smallholding and we’ve lost three good sheep, and have another that’s now not going to be any good for lambing next season.

“The vet said it would be very unlucky if it was two separate dogs. We reckon its the same dog as the one who attacked our sheep last week, and that it’s got a taste for it.”

This is the latest attack on sheep in the area in the last few weeks, and follows the death of three lambs in a field at Kingston Maurward College and the loss of a lamb after it was chased off a cliff in Eype, among other incidents.

PC Scott McGregor said: “It is with a feeling of dismay that we are again reporting on this type of incident, which occurs regularly.

“Your dog may normally be gentle and calm, but put it amongst livestock and its natural instinct will become all too apparent.

Legislation to tackle this also includes causing of injury or suffering to the animals or, in the case of females, the abortion or loss of any foetus and any injury through being chased by a dog.

Often it is not until later that the true extent of the trauma caused to livestock has been realised. This is particularly during lambing or calving time as it adds to the risk of miscarriage and injury. Dog owners may be oblivious that their family pet is worrying livestock out of their sight. Your dog may normally be gentle and calm, but put it among livestock and its natural instinct will become all too apparent, as shown in the recent incident.

“Always use a lead around livestock or find somewhere away from livestock to walk your dog and never assume your dog is not a threat.”

If you have any information or know who owns the dog responsible for the attack, call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident 17149, or call the dog warden on 01305 251101.