Lincolnshire shepherds on rising toll of dog attacks on flocks

George Robinson and Keira Rhodes look after more than 2,000 sheep

Shepherds have spoken of the rising toll of dog attacks on livestock, saying it is "just getting too much".

George Robinson and Keira Rhodes, who look after almost 2,000 sheep near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, have had 21 of their flock killed or injured in the last month.

Ms Rhodes said: "It's horrible. We don't know what we're going to find."

Police said they would prosecute irresponsible pet owners and remove their right to own a dog.

The shepherds, who tend their animals on a flood plain which is popular with dog walkers and features a footpath following the Viking Way, said they have had to get used to attacks.

"It happens quite regularly," said Mr Robinson, "Sometimes more serious than others, but in the last month we've had 21 sheep either killed or injured, it's just getting too much."

'Horrible'

In the latest incident last week, Ms Rhodes saw a sheep almost drown after a dog had attacked and chased it into the nearby River Bain.

"It was wet, it was panicking, it was freezing cold. As it went into shock, it started to flip onto its back, onto its wool," she said.

"I thought I was going to stand there and watch it drown. It was horrible."

After she saved the stricken creature, she noticed bite marks on its body with "bits of flesh coming out".

Sheep are regularly being attacked by dogs allowed off their leads, with some being driven into the river

Lincolnshire Police have appealed for information about the attack, which happened on 29 November between midday and 14:00 GMT.

In another incident in November, sheep were attacked and bitten before being driven into the river, which was swollen following Storm Babet.

Five animals were swept away.

'Made so difficult'

Lincolnshire Police's rural crime action team posted on social media about other locations of dog attacks on sheep in the last few months, including Harlaxton, Short Ferry, Hanby, Corby Glen and Kirkby Underwood.

They said: "We will prosecute and if necessary we will seek to remove your legal right to keep a dog."

Ms Rhodes added: "We look after these sheep every day. We watch them from when they're born right up to when they leave our farm and we try and give them the best life possible and it's been made so difficult with people not having their dogs under control and letting them attack the sheep."