'Please don't let your dogs kill our sheep'

The couple said they had put up signs urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads

As farmer Jade Gould prepares to start her day, she wonders: "Are my sheep going to be attacked today?"

Ms Gould, 31, and her partner Daniel Mellor - a third-generation farmer from Buxton in Derbyshire - say three of their flock have been killed in the past 18 months, including a pregnant ewe that was ravaged by a dog last week.

They believe sheep worrying is becoming an "unfortunate trend" in the countryside.

Derbyshire Police has also warned dog owners to ensure their pets are under control after a number of fatal incidents.

The force said it had recorded 65 occurrences of sheep worrying across the county in the past year.

Ms Gould - who helps her partner run Temple Hill Farm near popular Buxton landmark Solomon's Temple - said she wanted people to continue enjoying the countryside but "respect" the farmers who looked after the land and their livestock.

Mr Mellor, 40, runs Temple Hill farm, which was started by his grandad in 1958

In the most recent attack on the morning of 25 February - which was reported to police - Ms Gould and Mr Mellor received a call from a neighbour as a dog was seen worrying their sheep.

When they arrived, the ewe - which was carrying twin lambs - had "just taken her last breath" and had injuries to her face, neck and stomach.

"It was a bit of a godsend that she did die because she would have suffered horrifically, the injuries were awful," Ms Gould said.

A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said: "Following an investigation the owner of the dog involved in the incident was located.

"He received a voluntary control order to keep his dog on a lead and agreed to pay compensation to the farmer."

Ms Gould said the attacks on their animals had become an unfortunate trend

A few months earlier, in October, Ms Gould's pedigree ewe was attacked and killed while in a private field.

She said: "We physically put her in there to avoid any dog attacks and then it still happened.

"[The dog owners] had gone through padlocked gates, so how do you deter people when they go through land like that?"

Ms Gould and Mr Mellor believe an increase in sheep worrying could be down to puppies bought during the Covid pandemic not being properly trained or socialised.

Ms Gould said her pedigree ewe had also been bitten in the face by a dog last year

Despite Mr Mellor placing numerous signs around the farm, urging people to keep dogs on leads around the animals, Ms Gould said incidents continued to happen.

"We want people to appreciate the countryside, we take great pride in it so we want people to come and enjoy it - especially from the city if you're not used to it.

"It's a beautiful place, especially Soloman's Temple, but please respect the surroundings and the livestock here as well," she said.

Ms Gould said sheep worrying could lead to the animals aborting unborn lambs, having their milk dried up and other issues, due to stress.

'Traumatic for everyone'

Derbyshire's rural crime team has been highlighting the importance of dog control in the countryside.

In a Facebook post about recent incidents, the force said one incident in February saw a farmer "forced to shoot three of four dogs that had escaped and were chasing his flock".

Police said the farmer had tried "repeatedly and desperately to distract the dogs".

The force said the incident, in Edale, was reported at about 14:45 GMT on 28 February and the dog owner had not yet been identified.

Sgt Chris Wilkinson, from the rural crime team, said in a statement released by the force that recent incidents had been "traumatic for all involved".

He said: "Unfortunately, we have continued to see incidents where out of control dogs kill, or chase and injure sheep to the point where farmers have had no choice but to put the animal down.

"As a dog owner, you must make sure your dog is under control around livestock.

"If you can't confirm there isn't livestock nearby, whether it be in another field or on the other side of a hedge, use a lead or make sure your pet is under close control."