Calls for dog owners to keep pets on lead after sheep is killed

Dog walkers are being asked to keep their pets on a lead after a sheep was killed last week in the Forest of Dean.

The sheep was found fatally injured in a field in Littledean.

And local residents say there has been a serious increase in sheep worrying since the start of the pandemic.

Mick Holder, chairman of the Forest of Dean Commoners’ Association, has called on people walking close to grazing animals to put their dogs on a lead.

“Failure to do that means that the grazing animals are disturbed,” he said.

“This can make them run away from countryside and into the small towns and hamlets.

“Sometimes, they are not lucky enough to get away and they are seriously injured and are left to roam the Forest until some kind soul rings up to let us know where they are.

“And some of them are killed outright.

“There’s a constant supply of complaints with regards to dogs worrying sheep, not only on common land but on farmland as well.

“We’ve noticed a serious increase since the pandemic.”

Mr Holder said a sheep was killed on farmland between Littledean Jail and George Lane earlier this week.

“Two young police officers spent four and a half hours with that injured sheep trying to ascertain who owned it.

“That sheep eventually died because someone left their dog off the lead when they shouldn’t have.”

County Councillor Terry Hale (Con, Drybrook and Lydbrook) has also called on dog owners to think twice about letting their dogs off the lead while walking in the Forest.

“A lot of people have gone out and bought dogs without having experience of owning one,” he said.

“They let them go even across footpaths and public land.

“They think they’ve got control over them but you’ve only got to get a lamb or sheep that turns around and runs and the dog is gone.”

People who spot a dead or injured sheep in the Forest of Dean can call Mr Holder on 01594 827485.