Thieves are killing and butchering sheep on Dartmoor
SHEEP on Dartmoor are being killed and butchered on the spot for their meat, livestock protection officers have warned.
Experts have reported that animals are being dismembered on the moor – or stolen alive to be killed later.
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Karla McKechnie, Dartmoor Livestock Protection Officer, said: "We've found sheep where joints like the leg and shoulder have been carefully cut away – they're the sort of joints you'd have in a roast dinner.
"I saw another killed which had all its legs removed," she added.
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"I don't know where this is going – but there are people out there who will do this for the meat."
She said people in Plymouth have also reported waking up and finding sheep in their back garden.
"We think they've been taken home so that people can butcher them there – and then have lost heart and don't fancy doing it – or the sheep are getting away," said Mrs McKechnie.
"Maybe it's because times are hard. It's very worrying – we will watch this space."
The main thrust of the livestock protection officer's work on Dartmoor is to prevent pet dogs from making a nuisance of themselves – and Mrs McKechnie has witnessed some horrific scenes during her first year in the job.
"There's a pretty serious problem with dogs on the moors," she says. "This year alone there were 41 recorded dog attacks - 20 of those logged with the police.
"Some of the time dog-owners say: 'It's only playing – it doesn't mean any harm,' after it's chased a sheep half a mile leaving its lamb behind. Dogs don't actually have to attack the animal – abortions are high in sheep. And even if it's only slightly got hold of a sheep, dog bites are nasty and the wounds will go sceptic."
Earlier this year Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society gave evidence to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee – and the organisation is pressing for the national park authority to take a much greater role in patrolling hot-spot areas, particularly near Plymouth, and prosecuting dog-owners whose pets are out of control.
Comments
by BS_Hater
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 3:16PM
“Well said Boris, as a landlord I would pick poles every time, polite, courteous, honest, CLEAN, hardworking individuals.
Great family and work values.
Janners, no fanx me luvver”
by BorisNapper
Monday, October 01 2012, 10:01PM
“Ahh.. people trying to insinuate the Poles etc etc. Heres a fact you may not like - Poles, and Eastern Europeans have a far better work ethic than any janner. They don't call in sick when there's a football match on, their hamsters and uncle's parrots don't get swine flu when there's a national scare and they don't (I kid you not) phone in from their own landline claiming to be stuck in traffic. Poles are more eloquent, can actually even attempt at pronouncing non-English words and also have the advantage of having travelled more than 30 miles from the place they were brought up. Poles actually give a damn about their oppo as well, Janners could learn much from them...but they won't.”
by Workitout
Monday, October 01 2012, 9:39PM
“The same people are also eating our fresh water fish,
All things being so normal in central /eastern europe.”
by BorisNapper
Monday, October 01 2012, 9:06PM
“Think you will find it's another avenue our scrap metal dealing friends are exploring.”
by ChezGuevara
Monday, October 01 2012, 6:43PM
“Being from Wales, I can tell you whoever you are that butchering these poor defenseless animals is appalling. There are better uses for them! Make sure you have a pair of wellies.”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, October 01 2012, 6:37PM
“Farmers are allowed by law to shoot any dogs that are worrying sheep, so I'm sure if "Farmer shoots dog" reports kept appearing in the Press, thicko dog owners everywhere would soon get the message..;)”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, October 01 2012, 6:33PM
“If I was a farmer I'd buy a pair of night-vision goggles (they're on public sale), grab my shotgun and put in the odd night patrol..;)”
by BOREDOFPLYM1
Monday, October 01 2012, 5:16PM
“why check 4x4 i can get four legs of lamb in my mini - they were yummy lol”
by pete13
Monday, October 01 2012, 4:02PM
“Why not pass a law that makes it compulsory to have your dog on a lead on the moor?”
by m_dalston
Monday, October 01 2012, 10:42AM
“Actually Cajohn - the police have been doing stop-and-search of 4x4's and other suspicious vehicles on country lanes at night time for a while now. This in relation to the poaching of deer & other game. The evidence so far points to local white British people. Sorry to burst your bubble.”