SEVEN sheep have been found dead after a suspected dog attack. 

The animals were found on land at Chick Hill, Pett Level, near Hastings last Thursday.

Later, two more ewes were found dead nearby. Police are in touch with the farmer, who owns the sheep.

Swabs have been taken from the carcasses and officers are tracing the dog or dogs, and their owners, responsible for the killing.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act it is a criminal offence to let a dog worry sheep, and owners/handlers risk being fined.

This includes physical attacks on ewes or lambs, chasing or other behaviour which may harm them.

Police Community Support Officer Daryl Holter said: "Sheep are valuable assets and any harm to them harms a farmer’s livelihood.

"It is every dog’s instinct to chase, even if usually obedient, but this can seriously damage livestock.

"A dog on the loose can be enough to panic sheep and in the case of pregnant ewes may even cause them to abort their lambs.

"Fences and field boundaries can be damaged or destroyed as frightened sheep try to escape, and lambs can die from starvation or hypothermia if separated from their mothers.

"They can also fall victim to 'fly strike', where they become infested with maggots, if blood attracts insects to their plight."

PCSO Holter said costly veterinary bills and disruption to farming routine were other aspects that needed to be considered.

He repeated advice that dogs should always be kept on a lead or securely contained when livestock were nearby, and urged owners to pay close attention.

He added: "Failure to exercise proper control could mean their pets being shot dead by farmers as a last resort when protecting their flocks."

Anyone with information concerning the Chick Hill attack is asked to contact Sussex Police online or by phoning 101, quoting serial 285 of 14/06.