Woman fined after dogs kill 15 sheep and injure 13

A veterinary nurse whose dogs ran off and killed 15 sheep in a "horrific" incident has been fined.

The two dogs, owned by Evie Watson, also injured 13 sheep while they were on the loose in Derbyshire for more than three hours.

When the 27-year-old found her dogs they were at Hall Pastures Farm in the Littleover area, next to the sheep.

Watson, from Rydale Gardens in Derby, pleaded guilty at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court to being the owner of dogs which worried livestock.

The magistrates told Watson it was a "horrific incident", but they recognised "the effort you went to to try and track down the dogs".

They also said she was "proactive" in reporting the incident to police herself.

They ordered her to pay £750, which included a £475 fine, legal costs and a victim surcharge.

Sgt Chris Wilkinson, from Derbyshire Police's rural crime team, said: “No-one ever wants to believe that their dog is capable of hurting other animals but as has been seen time and time again they can and do return to their predator instincts and chase livestock if given the chance.

“That’s why it is vital that dogs are always kept on leads around livestock no matter how much control you believe you have over them."

Warning: This story contains distressing details

The court heard Watson had been walking her dogs, Beans and Pacho, in a field near her home on 17 May.

Police said Beans was off the lead and Pacho was on a lead, but Watson dropped the lead while she untangled him, and both dogs then ran off.

Watson's solicitor, Felicity Coates, said neither of the dogs had ever run off before.

She said her client had tried to follow her dogs, and even bruised herself while she "scrambled in bushes".

"It became apparent she had lost sight of them," said Miss Coates.

"She asked her family and ex-partner to help her. They assisted, and three and a half hours later she found the dogs.

"She sees them, and when she does, she sees that two sheep are down."

The court heard that some of the sheep had their intestines hanging out and had to be euthanised.

Watson reported what had happened to police, and when she was interviewed, she admitted the offence.

Both dogs had public liability insurance and the farm was compensated "to a tune just short of £8,000", said Miss Coates.

She added her client was a "very responsible dog owner", did fundraising for animal charities, and also fostered cats.

Sgt Wilkinson added: “Livestock worrying is a crime which could, as has happened in this case, land you in court, so it’s just not worth the risk.

"Don’t take the chance and keep your dog under control and on a lead.”

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