The Trust is urging people to keep their dogs on leads after a sheep was found with serious injuries caused by a dog bite.
A local resident reported to the Malvern Hills Trust that a sheep was in distress in a field near North Malvern Road on Tuesday 9th November. The grazier swiftly attended and found a sheep with wounds from a dog bite. The animal is now receiving treatment and it is hoped that it will make a full recovery.
The Trust are asking people to come forward if they witnessed the incident and can provide more information about the dog attack.
Beck Baker, Community and Conservation Officer, said "We're saddened to receive news of another dog attack on sheep on the Malvern Hills.
“We’d like to remind people to always put their dog on a lead near livestock. Any dog, big or small, docile or aggressive, has the potential to chase or kill livestock so all dogs should be kept on a lead near grazing cattle and sheep.”
Sheep worrying, which includes chasing, is a criminal offence and dog owners could face a fine or in severe cases, see the destruction of their dog. This summer a dog owner was ordered to pay £240 to the local farmer in compensation and must have their dog muzzled and on a lead at all times on common land following a sheep worrying incident on the Hills.
To help dog owners plan their walks and know when to put their pet on a lead, Stockwatch is published every week with the locations of the grazing compartments on the Malvern Hills and Commons. This information can be found on the Trust's website, in the Malvern Gazette and on social media. A weekly Stockwatch e-newsletter is also available with subscribers receiving an email with the locations of the Trust's grazing compartments each week.
Beck added "Visitors to the Hills and Commons should also be aware that much of this landscape is registered Common Land which means that cattle and sheep can be found freely gazing outside the grazing compartments. Your pet should have excellent recall and if in doubt, please keep your dog on a lead at all times."
Livestock are an essential part of the management of the Malvern Hills and Commons. The cattle and sheep eat the bramble, scrub and young trees and this maintains the open grassland habitat. This keeps the landscape special and benefits the geology, archaeology, wildlife found here, as well as maintaining access and views for visitors.
