THE discovery of the savaged body of one of her own pregnant ewes has led Pludds sheep owner Bev Turpin-West to ask for heightened dog control during lambing.

She says wandering dogs are a menace at the best of times but ewes and lambs are especially vulnerable at this time of year.

"Last week a neighbour called to tell me she had come across a dead sheep in the woods. It turned out to be one of my own heavily pregnant ewes," she said.

"It was obvious the injuries were caused by a dog attack and the area showed the ewe had tried hard to fight off the dog.

"This is not the first sheep death in recent months to be caused by a dog in The Pludds area and several sheep have disappeared without trace.

 "The law requires all dogs to be under control at all times and any dog owner is responsible for any damage caused by their dog."

She says dogs just running loose and panicking sheep can lead to difficult lambings needing intervention by a shepherd or a vet.

"I hope the hole left in the garden fence or the wander without a lead might seem a little more sinister with all the above to consider," she adds.