Another dog attack kills five sheep and injures more

Sheep on two properties have been killed while a flock on a third neighbouring property have been chased and injured.

Another dog attack in Northland has left five sheep dead and more seriously injured with landowners fearing the "roaming killer" will return unless authorities capture the canines.

Yesterday morning's attack comes five days after sheep were killed in the same rural road on the northern outskirts of Dargaville.

Sheep on two properties had been killed while a flock on a third neighbouring property had been chased and injured. One dog was seen attacking the sheep while another was on the road close by but it was unclear whether it had been involved.

Landowners with stock in Colville Rd fear the dog will be back again to kill and maim more animals and believe they will not get much sleep until the dog is caught and destroyed.

Lynley Thompson said moving her flock closer to the house was the only thing she could do.

"We won't sleep because we know they are going to come back and attack again. What can we do with the sheep?" Mrs Thompson said.

She became aware of dog at her letter box about 7am and chased it in her car towards town.

When it vanished she returned home to hear a dog barking.

Mrs Thompson discovered dead sheep in her paddock and saw a "pig hunting" type dog mauling the neighbours sheep.

"The dog had a flock of sheep pinned in a corner. The older sheep bounced out and the younger ones were left to be mauled. It was biting them all down the legs."

The sheep were all covered in mud as if they had been chased around the paddock for some time.

Mrs Johnson called 111 as she watched the dog attack. When it sensed she was there it ran through the fence to a third property.

"It's a roaming killer just going from property to property worrying the stock. That dog will be covered in blood and mud and will have wool in it's teeth."

She said a responsible owner would hand the dog over if they suspected it had been involved.

Owners needed to have control of their dogs and make sure they knew where they were instead of allowing them to roam and cause havoc around the district, she said.

"The public need to be more vigilant. The responsibility lies with the owners of the dogs to tie them up. The dogs are not from round here and are just on a rampage."

Neighbour Nick Thompson said his remaining sheep were "sick and sore". Three had died due to the dog attack.

He grabbed a gun and got on the bike once he knew his animals were being attacked.

He said he was within 12 metres of the dog, which he described as a creamy coloured bull mastiff. It ran off before he could get a shot at it.

"Without a doubt it will be back. It's got a taste for it now," Mr Thompson said.

Senior Sergeant Rob Huys confirmed police had gone to Colville Rd yesterday but when officers arrived the dog had run off. Police were working with animal control staff contracted to the Kaipara District Council to prevent other occurrences.

Kaipara District Council general manager of corporate services Peter Marshall said a trap had been set to try and secure the roaming dogs.

"We are doing everything we can to identify these dogs and hopefully we can secure them as soon as possible."

He urged dog owners to ensure their animals were tied up particularly at night. If anyone saw roaming dogs creating problems they should call 0800 105 890.

Last Friday a dog was seized following the first attack on stock in Colville Rd on Thursday but authorities were unsure if the dog was responsible for that attack.