'It was heartbreaking to shoot dog attacking sheep'

A gamekeeper has spoken of the "heartbreaking decision" to shoot a dog dead after he said his sheep were repeatedly attacked.

He was called out to reports a Belgian Malinois was attacking sheep at a farm in the High Peak, Derbyshire, on 17 December 2025.

After making repeated attempts to usher the dog away, the gamekeeper said he was left in a "perilous position" to make a last-minute decision to shoot the dog to prevent it attacking any more livestock.

He has spoken anonymously as part of a Derbyshire Police-backed national campaign to crackdown on livestock worrying as changes to existing laws came into force on Wednesday.

The gamekeeper, who used his legally-owned shotgun to try and scare the dog away, repeatedly said he "did not want to have to shoot the animal".

In the UK, farmers are legally permitted to shoot a dog if it is actively worrying, attacking, or about to cause immediate harm to their livestock as a last resort.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 now gives police powers to take DNA samples from dogs suspected of attacking, chasing or causing distress to farm animals.

The maximum penalty facing those whose dogs attack or chase livestock has risen from £1,000 to an unlimited fine.

It is estimated livestock worth nearly £2m was severely injured or killed by dogs in 2025, up 10% from the previous year, according to insurers NFU Mutual.

The gamekeeper, also a farm worker, said the dog's owner also tried to get the pet away from the area during the sheep attack.

"I did everything I could to try and get the dog away from the area, but it just wouldn't leave," he said.

"Having to shoot it was heartbreaking, and I never wanted to do it. It was an absolute last resort.

"I don't think dog owners realise the awful position they are putting farm workers in by letting their dogs off the lead, who then go on to attack livestock.

"I don't think people realise that livestock can die, even if they have not been physically attacked by a dog.

"Just being chased and barked at loudly and repeatedly can be enough to induce so much stress that it can be fatal."

Derbyshire Police received more than 110 livestock worrying reports in a two-year period between March 2023 and March 2025.

In December last year, officers issued three community protection warnings (CPWs) to people involved in livestock worrying incidents.

Operation Recall – a national campaign supported by Derbyshire Police's rural crime team - encourages dog owners to look after their pets responsibly in the countryside.

PC James Hall said: "We are blessed with beautiful countryside here in Derbyshire and we want everyone who visits rural areas to enjoy the great outdoors, but to please do this responsibly.

"We are now entering lambing season, and so many fields are full of livestock, which is why it is more important now than ever to keep your dogs under control.

"We do see cases of family pets going back to their predator instincts and chasing livestock, so please don't take that chance and keep them under control."

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