TAVISTOCK police and moorland organisations are appealing to dog owners in West Devon to make sure their animals are under control at all times when exercising them on the moors and in the countryside.

The appeal follows the latest incident of distress to moorland animals. On Shorts Down near Whitchurch on October 9, a ewe and lamb were charged by an unleashed dog, causing both sheep distress.

The incident, witnessed by a farmer, was reported to the police. The dog owner was, in this case, apologetic to the sheep's owner, and has since booked onto a long-lead dog obedience course, organised through a local vet.

But there have been many previous incidents where sheep, horses, and cattle have been viciously attacked by dogs, leading to horrendous injuries or slow, painful deaths.

On October 16 two dogs, out of control on Roborough Down, chased a sheep into a gulley and tore it to pieces.

PC Colin Taylor, of Tavistock, said: 'I would like to remind dog owners, and those in charge of dogs, to be responsible when walking their animals on open moorland.

'They may not even be able to see moorland animals around because they are hidden behind trees or bracken.

'Where moorland or farm animals are around, those in charge of a dog should keep it on a lead at all times.'

PC Taylor said that under the law, dog owners, and/or those in charge of a dog, can be prosecuted if their animals threaten or attack livestock. And in some cases these pets could be ordered to be destroyed by order of the courts. Farmers could legally shoot a dog if it was on their land and a threat to their animals.

The problem has become so widespread that Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society, the Dartmoor National Park and the Dartmoor Commoners' Association have combined to appoint a Dartmoor livestock protection ranger.

Ranger Jane Cole said in her patrol area of moorland around Princetown, Roborough Down and Whitchurch Down there had been 43 dog attacks on livestock since January.

She said: 'These are just the reported ones. I estimate that you could increase by five the number of such attacks, given the incidents that go unreported.

'Sometimes there are cases where the owners have no idea that their dogs, who have been left to roam off the lead, are actually attacking livestock.

'These attacks cause much distress to animals. Dogs will attack sheep, inflicting wounds; the sheep will crawl off by itself, unnoticed, and its wounds will then be infected by maggots and it will die, a slow, agonising death.

'The point is that even allowing dogs to worry or chase moorland animals causes them distress. The dogs may think it's a game but it's certainly no game for the livestock.'

Mrs Cole, who lives in Bere Alston and is a former veterinary nurse, said there were many incidents of people parking their cars and letting their dogs out to exercise freely while they sat in the car and read a book.

She said there were even irresponsible dog owners who lived on the edge of the moors and just let their dogs out to go where they please.

Mrs Cole emphasised that most dog owners who took their pets out on the moor were responsible and it was only a tiny minority who acted irresponsibly.

If you witness any such incidents of dogs worrying livestock call Jane Cole on 07873 587561 or PC Colin Taylor on 08452 777444.