A SHEEP had its mouth ripped apart during a savage dog attack on Dartmoor recently.

The incident happened at Sheepstor on Sunday, January 19 and was so severe the animal had to be put to sleep.

The animal suffered ‘horrendous injuries’, said Dartmoor Livestock Protection (DLP) officer Karla McKechnie, who is appealing for witnesses to the incident.

‘The animal’s mouth was ripped apart and its tongue was hanging out from its throat,’ she said.

‘The owner of the dog must have known something about this as the dog would have been covered in blood.’

Last year DLP recorded 90 dog attacks on livestock between January 1 and December 31.

Karla added: ‘Now we are heading into lambing season, I want to highlight how important it is that dog owners keep their dogs on leads, or under close supervision, at all times when around livestock.

‘People need to realise that even if their dog chases a sheep these incidents will have a lasting effect on the animal and may even affect whether it can lamb again.

‘People ask me why there are animals on the moors and add that maybe they should be taken off to stop dog attacks, but what they need to remember is that if animals didn’t graze the moors then there wouldn’t be anywhere to walk or enjoy the idyllic Dartmoor landscape.

‘The moors are there to enjoy but it is a working landscape and my advice is to keep dogs on a lead around livestock and for the safety of ground nesting birds [from March 1 to July 31].’

The dog attack on January 19 took place between 2pm and 4pm.

A Tavistock police spokesperson said: ‘Any witnesses to this incident should contact 101 with information.

‘Please keep your dogs under close supervision — please remember to be a responsible dog owner and keep your dogs on leads at all times around livestock.

‘If a farmer had witnessed the incident then the dog could have been shot.’

If anyone has information on the incident, contact police quoting crime reference number CR/005508/20.

To report any incident involving ponies, sheep and cattle, whether they are in danger or distress on Dartmoor, contact Karla on 07873 587561.