Tavistock: Dog attack on Dartmoor farm kills 45 sheep

The sheep were chased over three fields

A dog attack has killed 45 sheep, including lambs, on a Dartmoor farm.

Sheep were chased over three fields in a bloody rampage which left eight ewes and 20 lambs dead and many more badly injured, said farmer Ali Dawe.

The animals were found by Mr Dawe at Langford Farm, near Tavistock, in Devon.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there was an ongoing investigation into the attack.

Mr Dawe said 13 injured ewes and four lambs had to be put down due to the severity of their injuries after the attacks on Sunday.

Including those that had to be put down, a total of 45 animals died.

Mr Dawe is certain it was an attack by one dog or more and he has photos of footprints in the mud around the scene.

'Absolutely traumatic'

The sheep were chased over three fields with dead and mutilated animals left stuck in gates and hedges, he said.

"The scenes we turned up to in the morning at first light were absolutely traumatic," he said.

"Sheep and lambs alive and dead straight across over 50 acres, over three fields.

"We are absolutely beside ourselves."

• Listen - Dozens of sheep and lambs killed

Mr Dawe said it was "too much destruction" for one dog to have carried out on its own.

"We've taken prints and measured the size of the paw prints," he said.

"They are four inches wide - there's only a few breeds of dogs that have that width of paw.

"We believe there's more than two dogs and someone hasn't kept them shut in at night."

One of the dog prints found at the scene of the attacks

Dartmoor livestock protection officer Karla McKechnie said the attack was one of the worst she had seen.

"I've been doing this job for some time now and I've dealt with some big attacks but I've got to say this pretty much tops it all," she said.

"These animals should be safe and flourishing.

"I don't even feel angry, I feel saddened and sickened when a farmer phones you up and doesn't know which way to turn.

"Their lambs and ewes with those lambs have been absolutely savaged.

"It's carnage and I feel desperate for them, absolutely desperate."

Appeal for information

Mr Dawe said it was possible the dogs were let out by accident but he urged anyone with information to come forward.

"We don't mind what the situation is - we're just very, very concerned as a family that these dogs have not been found," he said.

"We just hate the thought that anything could happen. These dogs could come back."

Devon and Cornwall Police asked anyone who could assist the investigation to contact them.

"The sheep are believed to have been attacked by a dog or dogs," it said.

"Officers have spoken to the landowner and enquiries are ongoing."