Pregnant sheep is attacked by dog

A Devon farmer is calling for urgent action to protect flocks of sheep after a pregnant ewe was attacked and mutilated by a dog.

Neil Cole, who farms sheep and cattle on Dartmoor, was devastated to see one of his animals badly mauled and what he believed was left for dead.

Mr Cole said it was not the first time such an incident had happened and wants tighter restrictions on dog walkers.

The RSPCA described the attack as an "unspeakable horror".

Dog advice

Mr Cole's animals have suffered previously due to malicious acts.

Five sheep of his sheep died two summers ago after being deliberately rammed by a car which chased them across part of the moor.

Mr Cole said this latest incident left one of the most horrific injuries to a sheep he had ever seen.

He said: "I'm sick to the teeth. It attacked the sheep so bad that it can't eat or drink and it's back has been ripped out.

"She's heavily pregnant, so she wouldn't have been able to run very fast to get away from the dog."

He is now concerned other sheep frightened in attack may die over next few days because of the fright.

Both Mr Cole and the RSPCA said people should keep their dogs on a lead while walking across Dartmoor.