SHEEP worrying incidents in the Okehampton area have raised concerns about dogs spreading foot and mouth disease.
Following an incident on Sunday at Broadbury where five sheep were killed, police are warning dog owners that if a farmer were to shoot a dog on their land, officers would take a sympathetic view with the farmer.
Rosemary Hinman, of Castle Farm, said her husband went out to check the sheep at noon and they were fine but by 3.30pm five had died.
'He saw a lamb dead in a gateway and at first thought it was foot and mouth disease but it had
puncture wounds,' she said. 'Then he found some more sheep up against a hedge where they had obviously tried to escape.'
Mrs Hinman, who has one of the few remaining farms in the area that has not been affected by a foot and mouth outbreak, said dogs should in no way be allowed to roam at this time.
'Dogs can certainly spread the disease and it is very important that people are responsible,' she said. 'The situation is bad enough anyway with people losing their flocks, this just makes the matter worse.'
The farmer said a collie and a spaniel had been seen in the area by a neighbour but no-one had a clue who these dogs belonged to and if they were the culprits.
PC Mark Hoar at Okehampton said since the Easter period there had been a number of sheep worrying incidents and if they persisted the police could well be looking at a prosecution if it was appropriate.
'At the best of times dogs should be kept under control in the countryside but now we have the foot and mouth outbreak owners must be responsible for their actions,' he said.
'If a farmer were to shoot a dog at this time we may well take a sympathetic view with the farmer.'
Anyone who has information on the incident at Broadbury should contact PC Ken Dyne at Okehampton Police Station on 0990 777444.