Sheep killed in attack by dogs (From Keighley News)

Sheep killed in attack by dogs

9:00am Sunday 9th September 2012 in News

Dogs savaged 19 sheep in a night-time attack on fields at an Oxenhope farm.

Owners found seven of the sheep dead and a vet had to shoot the rest due to their injuries.

Sixteen of the animals in last Thursday night's incident at Elm Tree Farm, Blackmoor Road, were lambs.

The owners, who do not want to be named, found the carnage on Friday morning.

They believe the attack occurred between 11.05pm and 2.15am.

One member of the family said: “We suspect people using dogs for hunting and allowing them to attack livestock. Someone must know something about this as the dogs must have been covered in blood.

“These dogs are going to attack somewhere else. It's been devastating for us but it could happen again.

“The sheep were out in the field – you can't even see it from the road. The most upsetting thing was that there were 16 lambs amongst them.”

The family kept the flock of sheep as a hobby, using the sheep to train its two sheepdogs.

The incident is being investigated. Anyone with information about the incident should phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.