BY RONAN McSHERRY

SHEEP kills by what was believed to be a large marauding dog have horrified farmers in the Arvalee and Deverney area.

On Sunday and Monday night sheep and lambs were savaged with at least 11 animals belonging to two farmers being killed.

With the sheep out in the fields at this time of year Omagh District Council dog warden Anne-Marie McCann has warned owners to keep their dogs under control and asked the public to be on the lookout.

She said there is reason to believe a big dog such as a German Shepherd was responsible for the carnage as a local farmer got a 'fleeting glimpse' of the offending animal leaving the scene.

She added, "One farmer had six sheep killed and another lost five. There was a spate in that area at the beginning of the year but whether it was the same dogs involved or not, we are not sure."

Paul McCartan a farmer at Arvalee lost six sheep and a number of lambs in the recent latest attacks.

He said, "A neighbour heard the dogs and rang me at 5.30 in the morning. He had pet lambs killed and saw the shadow of the dog as it was still dark at this time of the morning.

"It was a terrible scene. I don't see the point of somebody keeping a dog if they don't even know where it is."

TRAUMA

In past attacks in the same area local farmers had no recourse to compensation leaving them out of pocket on top of the trauma of their sheep being slaughtered.

The law states that a person who owns a legally held shot gun is within his rights to shoot a dog on their land or on another's land with the permission of the land owner.

Enforcement officer at Omagh District Council Anne-Marie McCann reiterated that local people who have information of any dangerous dogs roaming loose in their area or worrying sheep should report it immediately.

They can contact the dog warden at Omagh District Council on 02882 245321 ext 232.