Leeds man pays compensation after his dog killed four lambs at Yorkshire farm

A dog owner whose puppy attacked a flock of sheep and killed four lambs has been ordered to pay more than £800 in compensation.
Harrogate Magistrates Courts.Harrogate Magistrates Courts.
Harrogate Magistrates Courts.

Steve Young, 43, of Crow Lane, Otley, appeared at the Harrogate Magistrates Courts today after pleading guilty to sheep worrying.

His 14-month-old puppy called Bear – an Alaskan Malamute, which is like a large husky – escaped from a business premises in Dacre, Nidderdale, and ran into a field of ewes and lambs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A witness described seeing a dog attacking a lamb and throwing it around, North Yorkshire Police said.

The owner of the flock was contacted and arrived to find two lambs lying on the ground with injured legs and two more bleeding from bite marks.

One of the lambs had to be put down by a vet.

The other three died of their injuries.

The farmer who owned the sheep told officers he was “upset and shocked” by the incident, according to the force.

There was no public right of way on the land.

Young was interviewed by police and said he was shocked and stated that the dog must have run out of a side door of the business premises, the force said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He maintained that the dog was not capable of attacking the sheep but was “playing” with them, it added.

He apologised to the farmer and offered to pay costs.

Magistrates ordered Young to pay £808.27 to the owner to cover the value of the animals and the costs he incurred and gave Young a conditional discharge.

After the sentencing, Wildlife Crime Officer PC Bill Hickson, who led the case for North Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a particularly bad case of sheep worrying that shows how careful dog owners need to be when there is livestock nearby.

“When a dog runs amok among a flock of sheep, it can do a huge amount of damage by panicking the animals. If it causes injuries as well, as happened in this case, there’s a good chance that animal will die.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The farmer in this case has been left with four dead lambs, a distressed flock and veterinary fees.

“Sheep farmers work hard to look after their flocks and do not like to see them suffer.

"Incidents like this one are therefore very distressing for them, as well as their animals.

"That’s why we deal with offenders robustly and when necessary will bring them before the courts, so they can be sentenced appropriately.”