Hunt for dogs after sheep killed
A family is urging the owners of dogs believed responsible for the brutal killing of more than 20 sheep to come forward to prevent further attacks.
Joshua Olykan arrived at his parents’ property on the outskirts of Christchurch on Saturday morning to find all of their sheep either dead or badly hurt.
‘‘Ears torn off, noses bitten to shreds, legs torn up. It was pretty horrific,’’ he said. ‘‘It was definitely dogs, [judging by] the injuries.’’
Olykan met a neighbour whose animals had suffered a similar fate and together they took stock of their animals.
‘‘We went around and did an assessment . . . and put down the ones that were beyond help, which was all of them except for one.’’
Olykans’ parents lost 15 of their 16 sheep. The neighbour lost all six of his sheep, he said, and one sheep was killed on a third property.
Christchurch City Council animal control officers visited the scene on Buchanans Rd, Yaldhurst, Olykan said.
‘‘They said it was very hard for them to find the animals unless they’re caught in the act.
‘‘It’d be good to find [the dogs] and get them dealt with before they do it again.’’
No neighbours reported seeing or hearing any dogs overnight on Friday, Olykan said.
‘‘One neighbour was alerted to one of our animals on their deck in the early hours of Saturday morning. They didn’t think anything really of it until we found the rest of them. One of the sheep had burst through the fence and gone over on to their property.’’
Most of the dead sheep were inlamb, he said. They were buried on the property on Saturday. ‘‘They’re all pretty heavy old girls. They were pretty close to dropping. It’s pretty horrific for them.’’
Police had been informed of the attack, Olykan said.
A council spokeswoman said animal control was investigating. Anyone with information should call 03 941 8999.