DARTMOOR Livestock Protection Society has been inundated with reports of injured or dead sheep as a result of dog attacks.

In the past two weeks, DLP officer Karla McKechnie has received 14 reports of lambs and sheep killed or injured as a result of out of control pets.

Karla said: ‘The thing is it’s just not acceptable in this day and age to have irresponsible dog owners letting their dogs run amok like this. Dogs are actually a luxury people choose to have, whereas sheep are a farmer’s livelihood. I am getting calls pretty much every single day now about dogs chasing or attacking livestock, it’s just awful.

‘From March 1 to July 31 is the lambing and bird nesting season and dogs must be on the lead around livestock on Dartmoor — it’s a National Park by-law.’

West Devon police officers said there had been a ‘large increase in dogs reported out of control’ with some resulting in the death of sheep.

A local officer said: ‘Can people please keep their dogs under control at all times.’

One incident last Tuesday (May 26) was witnessed by a family who saw a dog chase a lamb into the river at Drake’s Trail and attack the animal’s neck and head and drag it under water. Two members of the family reportedly ran into the river and after 15 minutes managed to get the dog off the lamb and out of the river.

One woman said that the dog’s owner was ‘nowhere to be seen’.

The lamb sustained bites to its neck and face and a small chunk out of its ear.

Karla added that the stresses these animals were subjected to was ‘enough to kill them’.

If you witness a dog chasing or attacking livestock call Karla immediately on 07873 587561.