9:50am Saturday 5th January 2008
By Emily Walker
SHEEP grazing on the idyllic fields surrounding Barbury Castle are being killed and badly injured - as dog-walkers let their mutts off their leads.
Farmer Andy Orton said seven of his sheep, kept on the ground near the castle, had been killed by pet dogs during the Christmas period.
And three more have been seriously injured.
One ewe was mauled by a dog, that bit off both her ears, eyelids and lips, before being left to bleed on the ground.
The Adver photographed the flock but the picture of the injured sheep is too horrific to be shown. The animal was due to be put down today.
"I went out on Saturday afternoon and found her standing in a pool of blood," he said.
"There were three dead ones, but this girl wasn't dead. But she is going to have to be shot.
"A dog ripped both her ears off, ripped her lips off and her eyelids have been ripped off.
"Nothing can be done for her now.
"Any dog can attack. One time I saw a woman with a Jack Russell up there.
"I asked the lady if she had a lead for it and it ran right up to me and bit my hand. Even a little dog can injure a sheep.
"Over Christmas and New Year you always expect more people to be up there walking their dogs, but so many people pay no attention to the signs saying dogs have to be kept on leads.
"And sadly, more dog walkers means more dead sheep.
"Ninety per cent of people keep their dogs on a lead, but just one loose dog can cause so much misery."
Mr Orton, of Draycott Farm in Draycott Foliat, near Chiseldon, has about 40 animals on the grounds around the castle.
He said he was happy for people to walk their dogs on the land, but urged animal owners to be more responsible and pay attention to the signs.
"There is a special area fenced off where people can let their dogs run free," he said.
"I have dogs myself and those extendable leads are really good at giving them the exercise the need without harming anyone.
"If I approach people and ask them to keep their dogs on leads they can get angry and say it's public land so they can do what they want. It is council property, but I'm the tenant farmer trying to make a living."
PC Simon Talbot said: "The problem is dogs being let off their leads.
"It isn't one particularly vicious animal, it just looks like too many people being careless and irresponsible with their pets."
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