Dog attacks leave 35 sheep dead on regional park farm

Ambury Park staff found the carcasses from the second attack across two paddocks. Picture / Auckland Regional Council

Dogs have mauled to death 35 sheep in two attacks at a South Auckland farm park.

Auckland Regional Council (ARC) park ranger Stan Hall found 16 dead sheep scattered across two paddocks at Ambury Park's 80 hectares of farmland on Monday and three more had to be destroyed.

Last week, 17 sheep were found dead following a similar attack.

A camper was woken by the noise and saw the animals - reported to be two staffordshire-cross dogs - before they got away.

ARC general manager parks Lance Vervoort said the attacks were causing great concern.

"These attacks have been vicious and brutal," he said.

Mr Vervoort said it appeared the dogs were working together and bailing the sheep up in the corners of the paddocks to carry out their attacks.

"We are extremely concerned that dogs with these tendencies are being allowed to roam freely at night and we are appealing to members of the public for any information they may have."

Valued at about $800 each, the lost stock were an integral part of the ARC farming operation's breeding programme at Ambury, Mr Vervoort said.

"About a third of this flock has been lost," he said.

Park staff and volunteers are maintaining a nightly vigil to protect the remaining sheep.

Members of the public with any information about dogs in the Ambury Regional Park area are asked to contact the park's rangers.

School programme topics include animal genetics, wool and milking.

The park also has hens, pigs, rabbits, orphan pet lambs, bucket-fed calves and a Clydesdale horse, alongside its commercial farm operation.

- NZPA