Police in Sussex are "incredibly frustrated" after news of more dog attacks on sheep in the county, with one officer saying he is "incensed."
The most recent attack took place on Saturday (10 March) at Cissbury Ring on the Downs above Worthing.
The injuries the dog inflicted on the ewe are so gruesome that police won't release photos of them.
The sheep was still alive after the attack, but a head wound meant the only course was to put it down.
The attack took place in the field where a farmer-led event highlighting the problems of sheep worrying took place just a week before.
A second attack occurred on the same day on the same farm.
The event was attended by dog owners who regularly exercise their pets in the area.
'Incensed'
Sergeant Tom Carter said he is "incensed" that despite the publicity around these attacks, dog owners are still letting their pets run loose among livestock and cause "dreadful suffering" to the sheep that they are savaging.
He said: “We have released photos and we have released video, but the message is still not getting through. In the most recent attack on Saturday (March 10), the injuries a dog inflicted on a ewe are so terrible, that we just can't release photos of them.
“One of these attacks happened only yards away from one of our signs warning about keeping dogs on a lead.”
Economic loss
Sergeant Carter said the owner of the dog involved in the second incident has done the "responsible thing" and admitted to the attack.
“This is an economic loss to the farmer, but it goes way beyond financial considerations and I am incredibly frustrated that these attacks are continuing,” he said.
“With Spring arriving and the Easter holiday approaching, more dog owners will be out and about in the countryside and quite rightly enjoying the experience.
“However, those dogs must be kept on a lead. No matter how well-behaved or well-trained you think they are your cuddly, docile pet can turn vicious, uncontrollable killer in the blink of an eye. Don't think you can put them on a lead the moment you see sheep, they'll probably see them before you and they're gone. Keep your dog on a lead!”
Lambing season
Sussex NFU Adviser James Osman said: “It is now the lambing season and across Sussex around 330,000 ewes are giving birth to lambs now and over the coming month.
“We would like members of the public to report any sightings of dogs attacking flocks to Sussex police by dialling 999.
“We’d also hope that responsible dog owners who use a lead around livestock will encourage others to do the same.”
No dog or owner has been identified for the first attack. The sheep was found shortly before 7am and it is believed that it happened at some time in the previous 12 hours. Anyone with information is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 242 of 10/03.
