A HEARTBROKEN shepherd has told of the horror of finding a rare breed sheep with half its jaw torn away by a dog in an attack.

Claire Crowther, 29, is a member of a proud farming family who tend flocks across Saddleworth villages and the south Pennines.

Claire, who lives on the outskirts of Greenfield, showed a photograph of the sheep which on social media.

Sharing the picture, she said: “This perfectly healthy ewe has had to be put down because some irresponsible dog owner let their dog rip off half of her jaw.

She was an in lamb, due in April, so both her and her lambs have lost their lives.

“She was a three year old pedigree Lonk breed due her second lamb/s this year.

She and the lamb/s would have been kept for breeding.”

It is believed the ewe was attacked in the loom of a famous Saddleworth landmark, Pots and Pans, on Saturday.

Claire added: “We were called by a neighbour on Saturday afternoon who had seen her in a bad state but we couldn't locate her until Sunday morning when she came to feed with the flock.

“I noticed her straight away trying to eat but she could barely breath.

"She stood away from the other ewes when I noticed her bottom jaw was missing, her tongue was hanging out and she couldn't possibly survive the injuries.

"I didn't take any further pictures because they would have been too graphic.

“It is very sad and I expect more of these kind of attacks this coming spring as so many people have bought dogs over lockdown and they haven't trained them very well either recall or stock trained.

“The Lonk is now on the rare breed list so losing another young ewe is devastating."

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging ministers to take advantage of current legislation passing through Parliament and legislate to stop to continuing shocking incidents of sheep worrying by dogs.

The NSA believes the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill currently progressing through its various Parliamentary stages offers a prime opportunity to bring much needed action.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Simply including the instruction for dogs to be on a lead when in the proximity of, or likely to come into contact with grazing livestock, would reduce these terrible incidents.

"And increasing the fines would act as a deterrent for irresponsible dog owners who do not keep their dogs under control.”

The NSA has recently received a spate of reports, highlighting a worrying increase in the number of attacks causing untold stress and significant animal welfare concerns.