Dog attacks in Flintshire sparks fears for lambing

THREE neighbouring farms face a race against time to track down rogue dogs that are killing their sheep “for sport”.

In the past month all three holdings near Brynford, Flintshire, have lost sheep to the dogs and fears are rising for the lambing season, now just three weeks away.

The latest attack happened over the weekend when seven sheep were killed and three more were badly mauled at Pant-y-Groes.

Owner George Oare was making his daily checks when he came across a scene of utter carnage.

“I’d checked them on Saturday at 3.30pm and everything was fine,” he said.

“But when I returned at 2.30pm on Sunday, sheep were lying dead and injured across the field.

“They were scattered around in small groups, as if they had been chased for some time.

“It was quite horrific and made me angry that someone is letting their dog do this.”

Six sheep were found dead and another was enthanised by a vet at the scene.

Three more had suffered leg injuries and are undergoing treatment.

Mr Oare, who runs the Clwyd Agricultural machinery dealership in Dyserth, estimates the attack will set him back between £1,500 and £2,000 in veterinary, disposal and replacement costs. One of the dead was a 120kg ram.

Now that the dogs have a taste for blood, local flockmasters fear a child might become their next victim.

“If these dogs can do that to a big ram, it makes you wonder what they would do to a small child. That’s the most worrying part,” said Mr Oare.

“I just hope the three injured lambs make a full recovery, but with ligament damage you never know.”

The North Wales Rural Crime Team visited Pant-y-Groes farm yesterday morning and began making inquiries at nearby properties.

Later they tweeted: “1st job of the day another livestock attack. We think two dogs have been involved.”

Mr Oare and his neighbouring farmers have begun posting messages on social media in an attempt to track down the culprits.

He added: “In the past month two of my neighbouring farms have lost sheep to these dogs and now we are the third.

“Initially we thought they may be attacking our sheep because they were hungry, but it now seems they are doing it just for sport.

“We’ll soon be bringing our pregnant ewes inside for lambing. If we don’t find these dogs before the lambs go outside on the fields, it will be carnage.”