Couple lose flock in brutal dog attacks in Clare
Savage sheep attacks in Clare have left the owners of smallholding in “distress” and without a flock for the first time in two decades.
John Knight and his wife Liz, who live at Mill House, have seen all seven of the sheep they kept on land surrounding their grade II listed home brutally killed in the space of six weeks.
The couple believe the attacks, which were all carried out during the day, are the work of a large dog.
“It is very distressing finding blood and wool everyway,” said Mr Knight.
“A dog has attacked the sheep and it is a very unpleasant way for them to go, with fear, blood, punctured necks, followed by a slow death.”
The attacks were carried out on three separate occasions, with the first discovery of two dead sheep coming at the end of December.
A further three sheep were found dead on January 3 and the latest incident saw two sheep killed between 9am and 4pm on January 30.
Mr Knight, who has lived at Mill House since 1984 and kept sheep on the land for the majority of that time, said he wanted dog owners to be aware of the problem and to keep their animals on leads.
“My wife is very upset and we have had sheep here for a long time,” said the 66-year-old.
“I think that a dog which is being put in the garden during the day is getting out and making these attacks. No-one is taking responsibility and we don’t know how to go forward.
“Dogs which have any tendency to take an interest in sheep need to stay on a lead.”
Mr Knight, who also owns a number of horses, said the police had been informed about the sheep deaths, but they needed witnesses before anything could be done.
He added that the attacks had left him seriously out of pocket with each sheep costing around £70.
“For some people this is their livelihood and the dog that is doing this needs to be found,” Mr Knight said.
“It is a shame because we like to let the young children see the sheep when they pass and we are coming into lambing season.
“Lots of people get a lot of pleasure from seeing the sheep and we ca
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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