A DOG which killed a sheep on a Salterforth farm and injured nine others could be served with a canine ASBO.

The attack happened just days before Pendle Council launched an appeal asking dog owners to secure their pets because of the lambing season.

The animals were attacked by a dog at Lower Spen Farm in Salterforth on Sunday, March 20 – one did not survive.

Farm shepherd Leighton Bancroft said he was ‘devastated’ at the discovery of the mauled sheep.

He had been alerted by a passerby that a dog was loose in a nearby field.

“It was devastating, especially when we’ve put in so much work for lambing,” said Mr Bancroft, from Earby.

“This has happened before but we have never reported it because there hasn’t been the evidence.

“One of the sheep was killed and another suffered a broken leg but the rest should recover.”

Following the incident, Pendle’s wildlife officer, PC Nigel Keates, said dog walkers needed to be more responsible.

PC Keates, who is the investigating officer, believes he may have information regarding the identity of the dog.

And if evidence can be collected against the dog and its owners, he will consider applying for a community protection order, the equivalent of a dog anti-social behaviour order, restricting the animal’s movements and future conduct.

He said: “It absolutely makes my blood boil. This is a people problem though and not a dog one.

“It is horrendous for farmers. These fields are not just there for owners to let their dogs run free.”

The officer said there were a number of other wildlife offences which could also be considered.

He has also backed the Pendle Council campaign urging dog owners to take extra care with the arrival of the lambing season.

Tom Partridge, the council’s countryside officer, said: “Our countryside is crossed by a network of footpaths many of which go through fields used for lambing.

“So we’re asking dog walkers to take extra care to reduce the risk to pregnant ewes and their unborn lambs.”

Cllr Morris Horsfield, whose ward of Earby covers Salterforth, was shocked to hear of the incident.

He said: “I think a lot of dog walkers are responsible.

“It will be the odd dog that is getting out.

“I don’t think it will be somebody walking a dog because they can see what is happening.

“Saying that, when sheep are in lamb just a dog walking through their field can upset them.

“I think people should be more responsible with dogs when sheep are in lamb.

"Even if their dogs are quiet they should be on a lead when they are in a field of sheep as they can get upset and abort.”

Sheep worrying also has a financial impact on farmers said Cllr Horsfield.

“A lot of work and expense has gone into them. It’s their livelihood at the end of the day. If someone has a dog like that they shouldn’t be letting it loose”, he added.

Dog walkers are being asked to follow the Countryside Code and keep their dogs under close control when using public paths.

Dog warden Laura Robinson said: “The best way to do this is to keep dogs on a short lead especially near to farm animals. If a pregnant ewe takes fright at a dog running about, it is very easy for her to lose her lambs.

“Dogs can be legally destroyed by a farmer if found worrying their sheep and dog owners can be prosecuted.”