Sheep, lambs mauled by dogs

TWO men were fined in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday after their dogs escaped and mauled sheep in separate Golden Plains Shire incidents.

Corey Young, of Teesdale, pleaded guilty to eight charges arising from the fatal attacks by his unregistered dogs on August 6.

The victim went to the paddock to train her sheepdogs and saw the two dogs, both crosses, mauling a sheep. The dogs twice charged at the woman.

The woman said it was a “fresh kill”, with the sheep still warm and its face and neck eaten by the dogs.

The dogs were seized and taken to Geelong Animal Welfare Shelter.

The owner told Golden Plains Shire officers his dogs weren’t registered because the “council already charges too much for rates”, however the court heard he registered them after getting them back from GAWS.

He told the shire his dogs had never behaved in a vicious manner before, and argued it was possible the sheep were already dead when his pets found it. But magistrate John Lesser said this was an “unlikely proposition”.

Mr Young was fined without conviction. He was fined $800 and ordered to pay $200 restitution to the victim to replace her sheep, and about $120 in council costs.

Haydn McKenzie, of Inverleigh, pleaded guilty to six charges arising from the fatal attacks by his dogs, which were unregistered at the time, escaping and attacking two lambs on September 9.

The owner had to put down both lambs after the attack, and four sheep were further injured in the incident, the court heard.

Mr Lesser fined Mr McKenzie $700 without conviction, plus $122 in council costs.