Woman didn’t know her two dogs had killed 15 sheep until she got home

A woman has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 in compensation after her dogs killed a flock of sheep.

Ellie Blake, 60, did not know her German pointers had killed 15 sheep and lambs until she returned home when police knocked on her door. Farmer Graham Ford was alerted by a neighbour in Kettleshulme, Cheshire, to the attack and he went with a colleague to see what had happened.

They witnessed the dogs working together to systematically kill his livestock They fired warning shots, but that did not deter the dogs so they were both killed to prevent further killings.

Ten sheep were killed on the spot by the dogs and another five had to be put down because of the nature of their injuries. Blake claimed that both dogs were professionally trained and she had not previously had any issues with them.

Prosecutor Michael O’Kane told magistrates in Chester: ‘The defendant made attempts to find the dogs and used a whistle to call them but the dogs did not return to her.

‘She then returned home with the other dog before she and the friend returned to try and locate them.

‘Mr Ford has been farming for over 30 years and has 1,000 ewes in his flock. He received a phone call from a distressed lady who advised him the sheep were being attacked.

‘He made his way to the location with his sister and two people were already at the scene and they relayed to him that the sheep were under attack.

‘Mr Ford then observed two dogs out of control chasing and attacking his sheep. Several sheep were lying on the floor motionless and covered with blood.

‘Initially, the dogs were working together. One dog would corner the sheep and the other would attack.

‘They were totally out of control and appeared to be fixated and attacking as many as possible. They ran them down. When the sheep had fallen to the floor and became motionless they would move on to another.

‘The sheep had no chance. Mr Ford wanted to drive his vehicle towards the dogs to distract them. But that was not possible due to the wet ground.’

Blake, from Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to being the owner of two dogs worrying livestock and being owner of dogs dangerously out of control.

As well as the £3,160.80 compensation Blake was ordered to pay £860 in fines and costs. However, the court stopped short of banning her from keeping animals.

In mitigation Blake’s lawyer Isabel Thomas said: ‘She has always expressed her shock and horror at the way that two dogs behaved.

‘When interviewed by police she said if the dogs had behaved in such a way then the farmers did the right thing.

‘She never foresaw her dogs behave in such a way and never expected them to do so. She has owned dogs for many years and she has always ensured that her dogs are well trained.

‘She is extremely sorry for what the farmer in this case has had to go through. Like him, she is devastated that harm has come to any animal. She continues to express her apologies and sincere remorse for what the farmer had to go through.

‘She is a responsible dog owner and she has taken pride in the way that she looks after her animals. The third dog is with her partner and she has no dogs now.’

Sentencing Blake, District Judge Jack McGarva told her: ‘I speak as someone who loves dogs and wildlife when I say this whole thing is tragic.’

According to the Kennel Club, the German wirehaired pointer is a medium sized hunting dog, with characteristics of being a ‘powerful, strong, versatile hunting dog’ which ‘excels in both field and water’ and ‘loyal, intelligent, [of] sound temperament and alert’.

For temperament it is said to be: ‘Gentle, affectionate and even tempered. Alert, biddable and very loyal.’

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