Burnley farmer's sheep worrying warning after pregnant ewe attacked

Dogs running free can spook sheep and they can leave their lambs which are then open to predators, Mr Shorrock says

A livestock farmer is urging dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead after a pregnant ewe and its unborn lamb died in a suspected dog attack.

Jonathan Shorrock said it happened earlier this month on moorland near the Singing Ringing Tree in Burnley.

The badly-injured sheep was spotted by a member of the public, who reported it to the RSPCA.

Mr Shorrock said dog attacks were "a massive problem and it's getting worse".

He said he loses between 10 and 20 sheep every year to dog attacks and, in most cases, people just walk away and leave the sheep injured.

"The vet rung me up as he'd been called out with the RSPCA because the sheep that had been attacked was too badly injured, so the vet had to put it down," he said. "And that was the first I heard of it."

"This happens regularly. Nobody ever tells you. Somebody else finds them or you find them yourself."

He said he had "nothing against dog walkers, just keep them on a lead".

Dogs running free might not look like they are chasing sheep but the sheep "can be spooked and leave their lambs which are then open to predators", he said.

"It's not just the sheep, there are ground-nesting birds that can't settle to nest because dogs are running free and upsetting them.

"Just keep your dogs on leads on farmland and on moorland and everything can live together."

Simon Small, RSPCA chief inspector for Lancashire, said it was "an awful situation which was devastating for the farmer".

He said: "Panicked sheep can be killed or badly injured by loose dogs and pregnant ewes can miscarry, so we really cannot stress how important it is to keep your pet under control and on a lead when near livestock.

"Even if you think your dog is placid and friendly, when faced with a field full of animals they can be unpredictable."