Police shoot dogs after sheep 'torn up' in attack

SAVAGED: The carcass of one of several sheep that fell victim to marauding dogs in a Masterton paddock yesterday. Police shot dead the two dogs responsible for the attacks.PHOTOS/ DAVID COLVILLE

Masterton police shot dead a pair of marauding dogs yesterday morning after several sheep were savaged in a Te Ore Ore Rd paddock on the outskirts of the town.

Masterton firewood contractor David Colville said he had visited land he was leasing on Te Ore Ore Rd shortly before 9am yesterday and saw two large dogs hiding in long grass, not far from the carcasses of three sheep that had been attacked.

He said the dogs were large and aggressive and had growled when approached.

"I wasn't going anywhere near those dogs.

"They were aggressive and the sheep had been torn up really bad."

Mr Colville said Masterton police and Masterton District Council dog rangers were alerted to the attack and arrived at the site soon afterward.

He said police officers shot dead the two dogs after confirming the pair had attacked the sheep.

A fourth sheep was found to also have received serious injuries in the attack and was also shot dead.

A dog ranger at the scene recognised the two dogs, Mr Colville said, and later in the morning had contacted the owner, who said he had been searching for his dogs overnight.

The owner agreed to pay $400 reparation for the loss of the four sheep, which belonged to the Master Roads & Services social club.