A Sandown woman has been made to pay compensation to the owner of a sheep, which was killed in a dog attack on the Isle of Wight last month (March).

On the afternoon of March 14, a dog was let off its lead chased sheep grazing in a field.

It bit and killed one, police said.

A few days later, the dog owner visited the shepherd to apologise and offered to pay for the loss.

Following a review of the evidence, the Country Watch team spoke to the dog owner and dealt with by means of community resolution.

Under the conditions of the community resolution, the dog owner – a 53-year-old woman from Sandown – has paid £300 compensation to the shepherd.

Here's how to report a dog attack

 

  • Anyone affected by rural crime such as livestock worrying should report this to police on 101, or by using the report tool online: HERE.

Police Staff Investigator Andrew Williams, from the Country Watch team, said: “The majority of dog owners are responsible, but unfortunately there are a small minority whose recklessness puts the welfare of other animals at risk.

“It is so important to keep dogs either on leads or under close control, particularly around livestock.

“If you are walking your dog in a field and there is no livestock, please keep the dog in sight at all times, be aware of what it is doing, and be confident it will return to you promptly on command. If you cannot be confident of this, the dog should not be off the lead.

“Ensure the dog does not stray off the path or area where you have right of access.”

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, it is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock.

Police added: "We want owners to be aware that in such instances, the owner or person in control of the dog can be prosecuted, and the dog can be shot by the farmer to end an attack.

"We have a dedicated Country Watch team who deal with these types of offences across Hampshire & the Isle of Wight."