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Bunyan locals are hoping the arrest of a couple from Berridale will end a spate of dog attacks in the area.
Rural Crime Investigators have charged a 68-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man in connection with a number of dog offences.
Police alleged the pair from Berridale are the owners of eight rottweiler-kelpie cross dogs that are kept on a rural property in the Bunyan area. The pair do not reside on this property and the dogs are kept in a large run.
“There has been a history of sheep attacks in the area, and a farmer observed three of the dogs [escape from] their run and attacking his sheep on his property,” Rural Crime Investigators report.
“The farmer was able to shoot two of the dogs however a third escaped. The injured sheep were treated and fortunately survived. The owners of the dogs were spoken to and refused to accept responsibility for the attack.”
According to police, since that time local landholders have witnessed the dogs trespassing on their properties, “in excess of five times in the vicinity of their sheep.”
A total of four sheep have been found by the same farmer, animals believed to have been killed by injuries from a dog attack. Police say a further four are missing suspected dead.
On May 7, the dog owners were sighted by another landholder allowing their dogs to run loose on the land holder’s property and a nearby public road where sheep were running. “These landholders attempted to speak with the owners however the owners they refused to do so,” police say.
The alleged owners of the dogs will appear in Cooma Local Court in August, the maximum fine they face is $11,000.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside has issued a reminder to all dog owners, “As an owner of a dog it is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is under effective control.”
“That means making sure it is well trained in dealing with livestock, or if the dog isn’t trained, it is the responsibility of the owner, or person in control of the dog to ensure the dog does not come in contact with livestock,” Detective Inspector Whiteside says.
It’s not clear what the fate of the dogs will be.
To report rural crime contact your local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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