Roaming dogs at Patutahi have killed up to 100 sheep in past five weeks

Farmers at Patutahi have now lost upwards of 100 sheep to dog attacks over the past five weeks and theyare calling on the council to be even more proactive in an effort to end the slaughter. They want the owner of the dog leading the attacks to surrender it to animal control. David Briant (left) and Grant Searle are pictured with some of the slain sheep. Picture supplied

The dog attack slaughter of sheep has continued this week in the Patutahi area and the affected farmers have made a plea to the owner of the “ringleader” dog to surrender it in the hope the carnage can end.

Seventeen fattening lambs were killed by roaming dogs on a vineyard property in Wharekopae Road, and three in-lamb ewes were killed on another property in the same area on Monday night.

Between 80 and 100 sheep have now been killed by dogs, mainly at night, in the past five weeks.

In all nine landowners have had stock killed in that area over that period.

The outraged farmers met with Gisborne District Council’s animal control section again yesterday.

Their spokesman, Warwick Stevens from Lavenham Road, said it was the third time they had met with the GDC over the issue.

“Farmers out here are on edge, because most of the attacks have happened between three and four in the morning, so we’re out there at night trying to protect our livelihoods.”

Farmers have shot and killed 16 dogs now since the slaughter began about five weeks ago.

“The council has shot three dogs as well,” Mr Stevens said.

“But the ringleader of the dogs doing this remains unaccounted for.

“The council seized a dog from the same property the ringleader comes from yesterday, the same dog that they released back to the owner after the attacks on Bob Bryson’s sheep five weeks ago.

“We understand the owner of the ringleader moves the dog around to different addresses, and we hope in the interests of the community out here he will see fit to hand the dog over, to surrender it to the council animal control section.

“We know who the owner is, and so does the council,” Mr Stevens said.

“We’re frustrated and angry that it has taken the council five weeks to act on this effectively.

“They told us at our meeting yesterday that they have been more proactive recently, and they promised us they would step up their patrols even more to bring this  terrible slaughter to an end.

“The council also promised to support landowners in any legal action they may take against the owner, or owners, of the dogs doing this.

“In the meantime, the owner of the ringleader dog needs to surrender it — now!”