A Swan Point resident is calling for pet owners to be more responsible after a sheep was mauled in a suspected dog attack.
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The animal was discovered by farmers this week, with wool torn from its body and its insides ripped out and left laying on the ground beside it.
It was barely alive and had to be shot.
Nathalie Gower owns the Paper Beach Road property and provides the land for both the farmers and local school students to use.
“The sheep belonged to devoted and caring farmers, who also shared the sheep with Exeter farm school, students of which are actively involved in learning with these animals and had a close connection,” she said.
“This sickening event involved the beautiful animal suffering a tragically slow and painful death.
“It is a really upsetting story, which should make owners of viscous animals more responsible.”
No other sheep were harmed, but Ms Gower said it was not the first time dogs had been behind an attack in the area.
“There have been several attacks in the last few months, two of which were on adults walking the Tamar track,” she said.
“My neighbour was running and got bitten by a dog off its lead and he had to have 12 stitches in his calf.
“I am not anti-dog, I am a dog lover, I have a dog.
“But when it’s impacting livestock and the school and the community, the council maybe needs to send a stronger message about owners controlling animals.”
It was believed the sheep was attacked overnight Wednesday.
“The farmers check on them every single day, and I don’t think it would have survived for hours and hours so I think it could have been early Thursday,” Ms Gower said.
The ewe had two lambs, which are now being hand reared.
This time last year, a St Leonards farmer faced a similar devastation.
The hobby farmer lost seven alpacas, including six pregnant females and one sire to dogs during an overnight attack.
The dogs also attacked animals on neighbouring properties with at least 20 alpacas and sheep killed in total.
A person whose dog attacks an animal may be charged with an offence under the Dog Control Act 2000.
According to the West Tamar Council’s Dog Management Policy 2015, a dog may be declared dangerous if it has caused serious injury to a person or another animal.
Owners of a dangerous dog could be issued with a warning or infringement notice or be formally prosecuted against.
The animal may also be seized and detained or in some situations euthanised.
To report animal attacks contact the relevant council or Tasmania Police on 131 444.
Melissa Mobbs
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
A journalist with more than a decade of experience, Melissa Mobbs currently works as the Deputy Editor for The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston, and has a strong background in reporting on crime and the justice system. Send tips to Melissa.Mobbs@examiner.com.au or on Twitter via @melissamobbs.
