Canine killings probed

Police and the Hastings District Council are investigating a third attack on sheep allegedly by two unregistered Flaxmere dogs.

Portsmouth Rd farmer Olly Ryan said they were "roaming the bloody neighbourhood and killing things."

Police said they believed it was a repeat offence by two mixed-breed dogs being held by the council.

Police are calling for two witnesses to the early-morning attack to come forward.

In June, 40 sheep were killed, three in a second attack two weeks later and yesterday the toll was 17 and rising - some could not recover from their injuries.

"I had to shoot animals that had their entire faces chewed off," he said.

"They were seen attacking the sheep this morning and followed back to the owner's place."

He said the council was reluctant to take a hard line on stray dogs because of adverse publicity from the way they were historically treated in council kennels.

A council spokesman said that was incorrect.

"Council dog-control staff have not received any instructions along the lines of the assertion made by the property owner," the spokesman said.

"All straying/uncontrolled dogs are picked up and all unregistered dogs are impounded.

"A registered dog that is picked up may be returned to the owner rather than impounded if it is the first instance of it being caught.

"However, if there is any suspicion that it has been involved in any kind of attack, it is impounded while investigations are carried out."

Police said the dogs were from a Tenby Terrace house 400m from the attack site.

"They have just run across a park and into the paddock - it is not far from where they live," a spokesman said.

"We believe they were responsible for the previous attacks."

Two men in a silver ute - possibly forestry workers - alerted neighbours to the attack.

Police would like them to come forward to help with their investigation.