POLICE have warned dog owners to keep their pets on leads when out walking near sheep and other livestock, with lambing season fast approaching.

Two dogs were reportedly loose and chasing sheep in the fields at Walkmills Farm in Wychbold on Saturday (January 20), and farmers are within their rights to shoot rogue dogs in such circumstances.

Referring to the incident, a post on Facebook said: “On this occasion, no harm was done as they were seen quickly on the CCTV and we went out after them.”

The post described the dogs as a “large black Labradoodle type” which had a collar and tag on, while the other was “possibly a Collie/German Shepherd cross or similar”.

“If you know whose they are, please tell them to keep their dogs under control – any farmer that sees them in a field and chasing their livestock is fully entitled to shoot them,” the post said.

Sergeant Sarah Kent, of Droitwich Town West and Rural West policing team, said: “The law protects farmers and farmer’s businesses. All dogs must be on leads and stay on footpaths and dogs should be under control and not interfering with livestock. “If caught sheep worrying, a farmer legally has the right to shoot the dog if they are in the act.

“It is not something most farmers would choose to do, due to the very nature of their jobs, they are animal lovers. But they have a business to protect.”

She went on to say: “I have quite a strong stomach but over the years in this job, I have seen some of the damage caused to sheep, and it is disgusting.

“Even if you are sure your dog is lovely and wouldn’t hurt anything, even if they just try to play with sheep, it can be very damaging. Particularly at this time of year, there are pregnant sheep and they can end up aborting just from being chased and getting scared.”

However, a post on West Mercia Police Rural Matters Facebook page, said: “If cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.

“Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you.”

The post also said, when on ‘Open Access’ land, dogs must be kept on short leads between March 1 and July 31 to help protect ground nesting birds.

Sgt Kent said there was another report of a dog escaping into a sheep field on Saturday, after a fence had been blown down by the wind.

She said the farmer returned the dog to the owners, who were “very apologetic”.