Sheep attacked in latest in spate of sheep-worrying incidents in Yorkshire

Dog owners must keep them on leads around sheep and other farm animals, police and farmers say

The sheep were found injured by a farmer in Fairburn following the suspected dog attack some time between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Both animals survived, but required medication from a vet.

It follows an incident where a lamb which was attacked by a dog on land by Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate earlier this month. The lamb died of its injuries later that week, police said.

The farmer whose lamb was killed issued a message to dog owners following the attack, via North Yorkshire Police's rural policing Facebook page.

The farmer said: “Please think of how your actions affect others. Dog attacks are devastating to farmers.”

North Yorkshire Police is now putting up posters in the Selby area reminding dog owners to keep their animals on leads when walking around farm animals.

Officers are concerned that as coronavirus restrictions are lifted, more people are travelling to the countryside, and walking their dogs around sheep without enough care.

Estimates by NFU Mutual suggest livestock attacks nationally cost farmers £1.2m in 2019.

Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce, said: “We need dog owners to take responsibility for their animals – it’s very important that dogs are kept securely when at home, and on leads and under control when walking near sheep fields.”