Dog owner fined after dogs killed 15 sheep
10th September 2024
Evie Watson was ordered to pay £700 after her two dogs killed 15 sheep and injured another 13, costing the farmer over £7,400.
A woman has been fined after her dogs attacked and killed a number of sheep in Derbyshire.
Evie Watson had been walking her two dogs, a lurcher type breed and a Spanish greyhound, in the fields near her home in Littleover, on 17th May 2024.
One dog was off lead and Ms Watson dropped the other dog’s lead while untangling him. Both dogs ran off and were found over three hours later in a field with a number of dead and injured sheep.
In total, 15 sheep were killed and 13 injured, with a cost to the farmer of more than £7,400.
One of the dogs was found collapsed and taken to a vet, and Ms Watson reported the attack to the police the following day.
Can take years to recover from
In a victim impact statement, the farmer said: “I am hopeful that our financial losses will be covered by insurance but this really should not have happened in the first place.
“Farmers like us work hard, and our livelihood depends on us producing good quality livestock and is a long term enterprise.
“A disruption such as this can take years to recover from.”
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Ms Watson, 27, of Ryedale Gardens, was subsequently charged with being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.
She appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 28th August, where she admitted the offence and was fined £475 and ordered to pay a £190 surcharge and £85 costs.
The maximum fine for livestock worrying is £1,000.
The farmer was financially compensated for the losses as Ms Watson had public liability insurance for both dogs.
Emotional and financial impact
Sergeant Chris Wilkinson, from Derbyshire’s Rural Crime Team, said: “Livestock worrying can have a devastating impact on farmers who are working hard to make a living.
“This incident will continue to affect the farmers involved both financially and emotionally for some time to come.
“No-one ever wants to believe that their dog is capable of hurting other animals but as has been seen time and time again they can and do return to their predator instincts and chase livestock if given the chance.
“That’s why it is vital that dogs are always kept on leads around livestock no matter how much control you believe you have over them.
“Livestock worrying is a crime which could, as has happened in this case, land you in court, so it’s just not worth the risk. Don’t take the chance and keep your dog under control and on a lead.”
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