Lamb killed and another mauled in dog attack near Barnard Castle

A LAMB has been killed and another injured after a dog attack near Barnard Castle.

The Texel lamb was killed last Friday afternoon (August 11) and another badly injured at a paddock adjacent to Flatts Wood, in Marwood.

PC Harry Marsh, from Barnard Castle Police, said he believed the animals had been killed by either a dog or a number of dogs.

He added: “They are quite valuable pure bred lambs. The dog or dogs probably have blood on their muzzle because of the type of attack on the lambs.”

The farm holds ten Texels and it is believed the dogs got into the field from a nearby path.

Farmers have the right to shoot dogs which disturb their livestock.

The number of dog attacks on livestock increased by almost 50 per cent last year with the total cost of claims reported at a record level of more than £1.4 million, according to NFU Mutual.

PC Marsh urged dog owners to keep their pets on leads.

He added: “We support the farming community in so far as if dogs are worrying livestock and a dog is out of control farmers are within their legal right to shoot dogs.

“But we don’t want that to be necessary.

“In the first instance it would be appropriate for dog owners near livestock or exercising dogs nearby to keep their dog on a lead.”

Investigations into the attack are ongoing.

If you have information which could help, call Barnard Castle police station on 101.