POLICE are urging dog owners to keep their pets on a lead when walking through rural areas of Wales, especially farmland, after reports of several sheep suffering “severe bite type” injuries.

Dyfed Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team reported on Saturday that several sheep had been attacked in the Trecastle area, near Brecon. And the force has reiterated how important it is for dog walkers to keep their pets under control around livestock.

“Several sheep have been found recently with severe bite type injuries, upon the Great Forest East Common land, above Trecastle,” said police.

“These horrific incidents can be avoided. We urge everyone to keep dogs on a lead at all times when livestock are present.”

Dyfed Powys Police has posted a section on animal crime on its website, where it states that livestock worrying is a criminal offence and comes under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

‘Worrying’ is where a dog attacks or chases livestock, causing injury or suffering. This isn’t just a threat to a farmer or landowner’s livelihood, it’s also a dangerous situation for the animals involved, and could lead to more risk if the animals get onto the road.

A farmer is allowed to kill the dog if it’s worrying their livestock.

Always keep your dog under control around other animals and if you see a dog on the loose worrying animals, report it online.