A livestock owner with property near Foggos Road discovered 20 dead and dying animals last Friday alone.

“The sheep were torn open, with their guts pulled out,” she stated. “Those that we found are now dead, but there may be more out there with injuries that will die later.”

The farmer, who does not wish to be named in order to protect her neighbours, said the sheep appeared to have been attacked simultaneously from in front and behind, with gashes in their faces and hindquarters and their stomachs torn.

This indicated that the attack was carried out by more than one animal. Not all the sheep were killed outright, leaving several to be put down by the owner.

She issued this advice to dog owners: “Keep your dogs tied up, or take them with you when you leave home. It only takes one or two dogs to do a lot of damage.”

The sheep would have fetched approximately $60 apiece at market, and would have been worth significantly more than that over the next two to three years to the property.