AM calls for action after sheep attacked and killed by brown ‘Lurcher type’ dog near Loggerheads

An Assembly Member has called for urgent action to be taken in the wake of another fatal attack on livestock by a dog.

Police launched an appeal for information after several sheep were killed or injured following a dog attack in Llanferres – close to Loggerheads Country Park.

Last weeks incident saw a ‘Lurcher type’ dog kill two ewes and injure three lambs which had which were later put down by a vet.

The farmer found two further injured sheep at the weekend which required costly veterinary attention.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow rural affairs minister Llyr Gruffydd – who represents Flintshire in the National Assembly – launched a campaign to give Wales the powers needed to tackle dog attacks at the Royal Welsh Show with Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake (Ceredigion) last week.

Mr Gruffydd said: “This is precisely the kind of attack we’re trying to get the powers to tackle.

The four main pieces of legislation that currently cover livestock attacks are all antiquated and do not fit with current agricultural practices or the seriousness of the offence.

A change in the legislation is necessary to ensure the seriousness of this offence is understood, and that Welsh police forces have the powers to properly trace and deal with offenders.

If Westminster isn’t interested in this problem, and it isn’t, then Wales needs to have the ability to act.

That’s why our campaign launched last week is for the devolution of specific powers to Wales to enable us to get to grips with this growing problem.

How many more attacks will we have to see before Westminster sits up and takes notice? Farmers are fed up with inaction on this matter.”

Police are still searching for the dog and its owner following the latest attack near Loggerheads.

PC Lynette Farley from North Wales Police said: “The farmer is understandably upset at seeing his stock being harmed and we are working with him to locate the dog responsible.”

The offending dog is described as a brown Lurcher type, which was not with its owner at the time of the attacks.

PC Farley added: “The area is very rural but a number of tourists would have been visiting the area as it is very close to Loggerheads Country Park.”

If anyone witnessed the attacks on the sheep or has information relating to the dog please call PC Farley quoting reference 19100411094.

Recent figures from North Wales Police showed there were 449 cases of dog attacks recorded in the area between 2013 and 2017.

Almost nine out of 10 of these dog attacks occurred when pets strayed from home.