A FARMER has called for dog owners to be “vigilant” after having to shoot dogs that have plagued his livestock.
Emrys Jones, tenant farmer at Park Farm on the Great Orme, was forced to shoot two Alaskan Malamutes who had chased and killed some of his sheep.
Two of his sheep also had to be rescued from a cliff ledge above Marine Drive some days after the incident.
Mr Jones said he recognised that the majority of dog owners were responsible when handling their pets around livestock, but the actions of a small minority could cause great difficulty for farmers.
“Dogs have chased my sheep off a cliff or killed them – and it’s not a pleasant sight. The majority of people are responsible – it’s the one percent that has got no understanding of what their dog can do.”
Mr Jones added that he has some 700 sheep on the Orme, and owners have to understand that the terrain also presents a danger to sheep if they are chased by dogs.
He added: “There were about 10 people involved rescuing the sheep, and it’s always at the back of my mind that anything could happen to them while trying to rescue my sheep.”
“I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened”.
Mr Jones also owns a farm at Goffen, near Llanddoged, where he lost many sheep two years ago due to a dog attack.
RSPCA inspector Mike Pugh said: “We have to respond to a lot of calls about sheep worrying in this area and also get call-outs to rescue worried sheep too in precarious situations. The RSPCA picks up the pieces and there may be no need at all if owners kept their dogs under control.
He added that if anyone spotted dogs spotted wandering freely and worrying sheep, they should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.