Farmer 'not surprised' by dog-attack sheep deaths

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Farmers say they are "not surprised" after 34 pregnant sheep were killed in a dog attack.

Lincolnshire Police said four of the animals died in the field in Tathwell, Louth, on 13 March. The others died later due to injuries and shock.

Local shepherd Tom Shaw said losing a flock to an attack would mean an immediate "financial loss".

"Especially with the ewes and lambs, because it's double bubble," he added.

According to Lincolnshire Police, the financial loss to the farmer was between £10,000 and £15,000.

The force said it was appealing for information.

Dog owners face unlimited fines if their animal attacks livestock, under legislation that came into force on 18 March.

Shaw welcomed the new rules to tackle livestock attack, after one of his flock had its ears bitten off by a dog in December 2025.

"We had to put it [the sheep] down when we got hold of it," the 40-year-old said.

"It's not the dogs, it's the owners.

"I've got 10 dogs and they're all a bit wild, but they would never attack a sheep."

Dog walker Rosie Graham, who lives in Tathwell, said she was "really shocked" when she heard about the incident nearby.

"I've never heard anything like that ever happen, around here especially," she said.

Graham, whose dogs are walked on a retractable lead, said the onus was always on the owner.

"It's just common decency to put dogs on leads.

"There's a level of respect, I think."

Retired farm labourer Martin Fawcett, 82, from the town, described the attack as sickening.

"The dog shouldn't be off the lead if they are anywhere near livestock," he said.

Owners should "keep more control" of their dogs as there were many sheep in Lincolnshire, Fawcett added.

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