Police appeal for information following attacks on sheep

Following a number of attacks on sheep in fields around Marlborough and Oare Marlborough police are appealing for information from anyone who may have witnessed sheep being attacked by a dog. They also remind dog owners to keep dogs on leads if they are near sheep.

Marlborough Police released the following earlier this week :

“Has your dog been roaming freely in fields around Marlborough or Oare? Maybe your dog returned home with a bloody muzzle? That is the scenario facing at least one dog owner living near or walking their pet for there have been a number of attacks on sheep in the Marlborough and Oare area, during September and October 2022.

In one instance the farmer found the animal in such a bad state that it had to be put down due to the severity of its injuries. It was the second time in a fortnight that the farmer needed to take such action to a sheep in the same field. The sheep had been chased and had been bitten on the throat and ear by what would appear to be a large dog.”

Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the attacks. Please contact PC Emily Thomas by calling 101 or emailing: rctc@wiltshire.police.uk

Wiltshire Rural Crime Team is asking people to remember the following when enjoying the Wiltshire countryside:

• Keep dogs on a short lead when around livestock

• Clear up after your dog as faeces can harm cattle and sheep – and humans too!

• Tampering with farm signs and electric fences could have serious consequences, they are intended to everybody keep safe

• Please do not remove signs that are there to keep people safe and always leave gates how you found them – or follow instructions on signs on gates

• Your actions can affect other people’s lives and livelihoods.

If you see anything suspicious happening call 999 if it’s after the event report on-line https://crowd.in/JZQDcc or call 101.