Fee Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 When I was out with the dogs this morning I saw an injured sheep in one of the fields next to the footpath we were on. It looked quite bad, her back end was a mess of caked blood, and she seemed to have other wounds along her sides. I can't think of anything other than a dog attack that could have caused those sorts of injuries. I hadn't a clue who the field or the sheep belonged to so I just started phoning farms at random. I struck lucky, the 3rd farmer I called said they weren't his but he knew who they belonged to and he'd go over there straight away and let him know. I just hope the dog responsible is safely back under control now with an owner who will make sure it never happens again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yena Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 Poor sheep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 That's awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 How awful. It hasn't been unheard of for large felids to do that sort of damage when disturbed. Kazz xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted November 27, 2008 Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 That is sad, poor sheep Good on you for phoning around to find the farmer Fee and because it can't have been very nice for you to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 The farmer the sheep belonged to just called me to thank me for getting a message to him, which was nice of him. Sadly there were apparently two sheep injured, one not to badly but the other had to be destroyed. He reckons it was definitely a dog attack, he was absolutely fuming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 was it definately a dog ?, or possibly a fox? I only ask as there is no witness to this, wildcats do exist in this country and I don't mean lions and tigers living way out in the wilds. There have been sightings of lynx and puma's in different parts of the country beast of bodmin etc etc. because if the farmer has convinced himself its a dog attack, the next dog he see's offlead may very well be shot, whether it's actually worrying sheep or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted November 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 (edited) I'd be very surprised if there are any large cats near here, it's on the edge of a small town and quite heavily populated and densely farmed. I can't imagine a fox managing to practically kill one adult sheep and badly injure another, either. Sadly as the footpath alongside the field is used a lot by dog walkers the odds have to be good that it was a dog. There have obviously been problems before, the farmer put a load of notices up last year asking people to keep their dogs on leads around livestock, but there are always the numpties who think they know better, we meet lots of offlead dogs on that path Edited November 28, 2008 by Fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 was it definately a dog ?, or possibly a fox? I only ask as there is no witness to this, wildcats do exist in this country and I don't mean lions and tigers living way out in the wilds. There have been sightings of lynx and puma's in different parts of the country beast of bodmin etc etc. because if the farmer has convinced himself its a dog attack, the next dog he see's offlead may very well be shot, whether it's actually worrying sheep or not Researh group I am a member of Even the public area makes interesting reading. Kazz xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 If I remember correctly, isn't multiple wounds along the flanks fairly diagnostic of a dog attack anyway? ISTR that the big cats tend to go for the back or neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 Big cats tend to go for the neck, and there can be wounds along the shoulders. Exception is where a cub or cubs with no experience hassle an animal and grab hold of the nearest bit. Attacks by dogs are usually rump and hind legs first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 poor sheep. Well done Fee for making the effort to report it to someone, most people just walk on by.x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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