Witness appeal. Sheep attacks near Chippenham

Has you dog been roaming freely? Maybe your dog returned home with a bloody muzzle or even a sheep’s ear?

That is the scenario facing at least one dog owner living near or walking their pet close to Rawlings Farm, Upper Cocklebury Lane, Chippenham, for there were two vicious attacks that killed a ram and an ewe in June.

On the morning of 12 June, a valuable Texel ram was viciously attacked by what is believed to be a large dog. The ram was found by the farmer with its throat and abdomen bitten and ripped. An ear was also torn off and was not found at the scene.

During the afternoon of 28 June, an ewe was attacked and killed in another field near to were the rams were kept. The frightened animal had been chased and herded the wrong side of an electric fence. Again, the sheep had been bitten by a large dog.

Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the attacks. Please contact PC Emily Thomas by calling 101 or emailing: [email protected]

Wiltshire Rural Crime Team is asking people to remember the following when enjoying the Wiltshire countryside:

• Keep dogs on a short lead when around livestock
• Clear up after your dog as faeces can harm cattle and sheep – and humans too!
• Tampering with farm signs and electric fences could have serious consequences, they are intended to everybody keep safe
• Please do not remove signs that are there to keep people safe and always leave gates how you found them - or follow instructions on signs on gates
• Your actions can affect other people's lives and livelihoods.

If you see anything suspicious happening call 999 if it’s after the event report on-line www.wiltshire.police.uk or call 101.