Reports of dogs chasing sheep in Heathfield sparks police appeal

Officers are appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything, or who has any information about the alleged incident on Saturday, February 1.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “There has been another case of dogs chasing sheep, this one was in land off New Pond Hill Heathfield where six sheep were killed and up to ten injured.

“The dogs are described as looking like hunting dogs, one is black and the other white.

“Witnesses have suggested where the dogs have come from.

“If you saw or heard anything, or have any information about any incident, please contact us online, email us at [email protected] or call 101, quoting the reference number 1040.

“Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or their dedicated rural crime reporting number 0800 783 0137 or online.”

Police have issued advice following the alleged incident.

‘Serious damage’

A spokesman said: “Sheep are valuable assets and any harm to them harms a farmer’s livelihood.

“It is every dog’s instinct to chase, even if they are usually obedient and good with other animals.

“Chasing by dogs can do serious damage to sheep, even if the dog doesn’t catch them. The stress of worrying by dogs can cause sheep to die and pregnant ewes to miscarry their lambs.

“Sheep fleeing from dogs are often killed or seriously injured by their panicked attempts to escape, causing untold damage to fences and field boundaries in the process.

“Dogs chasing ewes and lambs can cause mis-mothering issues, with lambs dying from starvation or hypothermia when they become separated from their mother and fail to find her again.

“Dog bites can cause death in sheep or necessitate them being put down at a later date, or in less severe cases considerable veterinary bills and additional welfare issues as a result of flies being attracted to the blood and leading to a nasty health problem in sheep called ‘fly strike’.

“Injuries to sheep can also delay the normal farming routine, be it the mating season or administration of vital medicines and vaccines.

“It is an offence to allow a dog to worry sheep. Worrying includes attacking or chasing sheep and, in some circumstances, farmers are legally entitled to shoot dogs if they are endangering their sheep.

“It is vital that you keep your dog on the lead around livestock, even if you can usually trust it to come to call.

“If you live in or near a farming area, you must make sure that your dog cannot escape from your property, as it may find its way onto land containing sheep.”