Lancashire: Man arrested following dog attack on sheep

Officers from Rossendale’s Rural Task Force arrested the man after he allowed his dog to run off the lead in an agricultural field where multiple sheep gazed.

Two sheep were injured during the incident. The dog, a one-year-old German Shepherd, was seized by officers and remains in police care.

The man has been bailed pending further enquiries, the force confirmed.

READ MORE: Decapitated sheep found by a member of public in Suffolk

‘All dogs are capable of chasing, injuring and killing farm animals’

Latest figures from NFU Mutual estimate that farm animals worth almost £1.8 million were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2024, a fall of 26% compared to the previous year.  

NFU Mutual also found that 57% of owners let their dogs off lead in the countryside but, worryingly, only 40% admitted their pet always comes back when recalled.  

A total of 43% believed their dog was capable of causing the death or injury of livestock, up 11% compared to the previous year’s survey. 

And if present at an attack, just over half would intervene to stop it, while 20% would tell a local farmer and 17% would call the police. 

NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist Hannah Binns said: “All dogs are capable of chasing, injuring and killing farm animals, regardless of breed, size or temperament. Dogs that attack farm animals are often impossible to call off, and bites can kill and seriously injure livestock.

“Even if the dog does not make contact, being chased can cause stress and exhaustion, as well as separate young lambs from their mothers, which can lead to them being orphaned. 

READ MORE: Farmers encouraged to report livestock worrying incidents to help raise awareness

How to prevent dog attacks?

To prevent dog attacks on farm animals, NFU Mutual is urging walkers to: 

• Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept— but let go of the lead if chased by cattle. 
• Be aware that all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals. 
• Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers. 
• Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby. 

Read more rural news.