Andrew Nixon, a third generation farmer from Keighley, said the incident had shaken not only the livestock, but himself emotionally (generic)
A beef and sheep farmer has been left 'emotionally distressed' after witnessing a dog attack which killed a Texel ewe in West Yorkshire.
Andrew Dixon said the incident took place in the village of Low Utley in Keighley on Wednesday (November 22) - just under 30 minutes after he had moved 40 ewes for grazing into a field.
"I had literally moved 40 Texel ewes into a field for grazing and then within 20 minutes, they were attacked by this brown bulldog breed," Mr Dixon told the Farmers Guardian.
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"The dog was savagely attacking my sheep and I just could not believe how vicious it was behaving.
"I found one ewe had died with its bottom jaw completely torn off.
"It was absolutely horrific to see all of this happening."
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Mr Nixon, a third generation farmer, said the incident had shaken not only the livestock, but himself emotionally.
"It took around one hour and 30 minutes to settle the sheep in another field because they were absolutely traumatised and nervous after the incident," he added.
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"The dog had managed to escape but it had left me with all the mess to clear.
"I have tears in my eyes just reliving what happened.
"I still find it so distressing having to think about it.
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"Farming is already difficult enough without despicable acts like this taking place by out-of-control dogs."
The West Yorkshire farmer said he wanted to raise awareness of incidents like this to encourage people to consider the ‘damaging repercussions' of dog attacks on livestock.
"I read about so many stories involving dog attacks on farms and it really is more prolific than people think," Mr Nixon added.
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"One of the problems we face in addressing this issue is the television programmes which only want to share certain aspects of farming without reflecting, often, the very harsh realities of it.
"It dims people's perspectives of life as a farmer and does not reflect the real hardship we have to deal with.
"And the attitude of some dog owner's absolutely stinks and they have no respect for the countryside or farmers with acts such as this.
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"It really is frustrating because attacks cause heartbreak - both financial and emotional.
"There needs to be tougher punishments for irresponsible owners and their pets to help police with incidents like this.
"Farmers deserve justice too."
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.
