A CUMBRIAN farming family have issued a plea to dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead – after losing one of their lambs in a devastating dog attack last week.

Carl and Yvonne Clark, who farm 250 sheep as well as cattle at Quarry Bank Farm, Winder near Arlecdon and Frizington, have had to put one of their lambs down following a brutal dog attack last Friday, September 20.

The sheep was discovered by Carl the following morning in an ‘absolute mess’. Carl was initially unable to get to the lamb which was terrified following the attack - two other sheep also displayed marks but have since recovered.

The family decided to attempt to bring the sheep home the following day when they went to feed the animals, and after discovering the extent of the attack, took the lamb to the vet on Monday, September 23.

Following an examination, the decision was made to put the animal to sleep due to the severity of her injuries.

Yvonne said: “It’s really, really distressing. You have fields in various locations because of the sheer amount of animals you have.

“You just expect them to be safe, you expect people to be respectful, if there is a public footpath there are signs up to say keep your dog on a lead, but there isn’t a footpath in that field so no one should be in there with a dog - they shouldn’t be in there at all.”

As well as the suffering to the animal, the family have told of the financial implications that farmers face when their animals are attacked by dogs.

Yvonne said: “It’s a business, so it’s not just a sheer lamb that’s died, that’s probably £200.

“If it had been pregnant that would have been the mother and potentially two lambs inside of her as well.

“It’s your livelihood. It was one lamb that’s had to be put down but it could have been 20 or 30: there are 100 sheep down there, it could have gone through them all.”

Cumbria Police confirmed they received a report at 9.06am on September 21 to three sheep injured overnight on Mill Street, Frizington.

Yvonne has urged people to keep their dogs on a lead when walking them through fields containing livestock, she said: “You need to keep them on the lead... it’s just as simple as that really.

“If you just put a bit of thought into it and keep your dog on a lead.”