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Police in Warwickshire attended the ‘worst single' livestock worrying incident it has had to contend with after over 30 ewes were killed by loose dogs.  

Warwickshire Rural Crime Team said the sheep had been killed by two dogs on the night of February 19 in the village of Stretton-on-Dunsmore.

Officers said the owner had made no attempt to capture the dogs after they had escaped from a nearby garden, with the attack lasting until the following day when two neighbouring farmers managed to capture one of the dogs, while the other made its ways back home.

See also: Summer holidays spark livestock worrying warning

Drone footage captured by officers at the scene demonstrated the ‘carnage' of the attacks with dead sheep scattered across the farm.

Warwickshire Police said they identified the owner of both dogs and served dog control order to protect the public and other animals from attack.

See also: More than 50 sheep stolen from Somerset farm in one night

The farmer affected by the incident stated his desire for the matter to be dealt with through a community resolution - an out of court settlement.

To cover the cost of the attack, police said the owner had agreed to pay the farmer £3,300 in compensation, to voluntarily destroy one of the dogs involved in the attack, to ensure the property's outside perimeter was secure, not to allow the dog to be left outside unattended at any time, for the dog to a muzzle in public and to be under control of an adult at all times.

See also: Post-mortem reveals nine pedigree lambs were killed by a dog in Scotland

Warwickshire Rural Crime Team said the sheep worrying incident was the ‘worst single attack by far' and they urged the public to keep their dogs on a lead when near livestock.

Free signs warning dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead near livestock are available through Farmers Guardian's Take the Lead campaign, in association with the National Sheep Association.

To request yours, send a stamped self-addressed A4 envelope to: FG Take the Lead, Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ.

We will be able to send up to 25 signs.

See also: Lamb killed by 'disorderly' dogs in Somerset