Dog attack in Tukituki Valley kills 95 sheep, farmer fears more losses

A vizsla puppy captured by a farmer alongside its mother after 95 sheep were killed on a Tukituki Valley farm. Photo / Phillip Coop

• A dog attack on a Tukituki Valley farm killed at least 95 sheep, with more expected to be found dead over the coming days.
• Phillip Coop captured the two vizsla dogs he says are responsible and contacted Hastings Animal Control.
• An investigation is under way, with Coop urging dog owners to keep their pets secure to prevent attacks.

Dogs thought to be responsible for killing at least 95 sheep in Hawke’s Bay didn’t look like they were capable of such an act, the farmer says.

Phillip Coop has farmed the Tukituki Valley area for over 20 years, and his family has for over 100 years, but the attack he says was carried out by mother and pup vizslas over the new year holiday is the worst he has seen.

“I’ve had two dog attacks on stock in the 20-odd years that I’ve been working,” he said.

“One was 15 dead and the other time it was 27 – so yeah it’s at a whole different level this.

“I still expect to come across a little blind gut that I haven’t found, or a native-filled gully, where more dead sheep could be.

“I sort of hope I’ve covered everything but I’m getting mentally geared up to find more.”

Coop caught two dogs he said were responsible for the killings, put them in a cage, and contacted Hastings Animal Control.

He said he also contacted the dogs’ owner.

Coop said he was surprised because the vizsla breed is one he expected would hunt for rabbits, not livestock.

Some of the sheep killed in a dog attack on Phillip Coop's Tukituki Valley farm. Photo / Phillip Coop

“It’s all they’ve targeted really. Drilled them all into a creek, all into gateways, and taken them off one by one.”

Coop was hopeful his insurance would help him after the attack.

He said the owner had told him he would also help out with the clean-up, and financially if needed.

Coop said he had some recommendations for all dog owners of Hawke’s Bay.

“Just make sure your dog is always around,” he said.

“The moment they go missing ... and if they keep doing it, you’ve got to put it down or they’ve got to go elsewhere – otherwise this is what it can lead to.”

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said two dogs were impounded by Animal Control on January 1 and an investigation was under way. The dogs were still in the pound on Monday.

The spokeswoman said the council does not keep records of the number of dog attacks on sheep, instead categorising them into dog attacks on all “other animals”.

In the 2023-24 reporting year in Hastings there were 118 dog attacks on other animals reported, the same number as in the 2022-23 year.

The spokeswoman said dog owners needed to keep their dogs on their properties, and owners living near livestock needed to be extra vigilant, given the risk to farm animals.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region, along with pieces on art, music, and culture.