Arundel farmer issues plea to dog owners as lambing season begins
Last year there was an increase in the number of reported dog attacks against livestock
Farmers across Sussex are urging dog owners to take more responsibility when walking their pets near livestock.
Research from the Blue Cross shows an increase in the number of reported attacks across the country in the last year, with one farmer reporting a loss of 50 ewes in January alone.
March marks the beginning of lambing season and the animal welfare charity says even dogs who are usually calm and obedient at home can behave erratically in environments they're not used to.
Caroline Harriott runs a farm in Arundel.
She said: "If you get a dog that gets into a field of sheep and chases them around, it's distressing for them and can cause them to abort.
"Your years work doesn't come to fruition and it's very harrowing to see sheep in distress and suffering.
"They're not doing anything wrong, it's in their genetics to hunt. Unfortunately if they get under a gate and smell a sheep, or a deer or some birds, they will chase them and cause havoc.
"I've got a Labrador and I go to training once a week. If I didn't go to training and socialise her with other dogs, then she would very easily get out of hand."