Two Dogs Kill 22 Pregnant Sheep, Injure 48 Others in Wales After Escaping from Home

Two dogs killed 22 pregnant sheep and injured 48 others after escaping from their home in Wales, according to reports on Monday, September 4. The farmer, who owns the sheep, killed the vicious canines as retaliation for the incident that occurred in March 2023. In addition, the dogs were also aggressive towards the livestock owner.

Local authorities placed the dogs' owner, David Hughes, on trial and was slapped with a hefty fine for not being able to control his two American XL bulldogs, which were shot by the farmer when the situation got out of hand. Hughes appeared in court on August 22, and there was no mention of any prison time that he must serve surrounding the dog attack case.

In recent years, there have been records of multiple dog attacks not only on humans but also against livestock. While the aspect of 'dog breed' is blamed for a canine's aggressive behavior, experts argue that there are other factors, including upbringing, health, and environment, that drive some dogs to be aggressive. After all, the adorable pet dogs that we see today are all descended from a wild animal: wolves.

American XL Bulldogs

(Photo : Photo by Jaclyn Clark on Unsplash)

Two American XL bulldogs were responsible for the sheep attack in North Wales, as mentioned earlier. Prior to the shooting of the dogs, the farmer made several attempts to control the aggressive dogs at a farm in Rhosllanerchrugog, a village and community in the Wrexham County Borough of Wales, according to a statement of the North Wales Police.

Due to the incident, judicial authorities ordered Hughes to pay a total of £900 ($1,137) in fines, and banned him from owning or keeping dogs for five years. However, the cost of the dog attacks on the farmer's livestock reached an amount of £14,000 ($17,688).

Also Read: Ancient Scottish Practice of Using Dogs as Eagle Deterrents To Safeguard Their Sheep

Related Dog Attacks

Since dogs by nature are also wild, it is no wonder that they are also capable of attacking not only people and other pets, including cats, but also livestock.

According to the High Desert Wildlife Control LLC, most dogs that roam attack livestock as a form of "play." However, other dogs feed from other's energy, resulting in serious damage in a short time. In addition, even household dogs can be influenced by stray or feral dogs.

While there are various reasons for aggression, fear is its most common cause, according to The American Kennel Club, which added that insufficient training by human owners are some of the reasons why some pet dogs tend to be aggressive.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the United Kingdom saw an increase of dog attacks against livestock, with victims including pregnant ewes, sheep, and a cow, in Monmouthshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. Livestock attacks by dogs are just some cases in addition to the vicious aggression by some canines towards their owner or even to strangers.