QUANTOCK Hills farmer Bill Fewings has threatened to shoot sheep worrying dogs after a Christmas Day attack on his 300-strong flock left one ewe fighting for its life and two others injured. The most severely hurt, which suffered a two-inch wound to its neck, had to be destroyed three days after the incident. Mr Fewings and his wife realised a dog had been in amongst the flock when they returned to their Quantock Farm home at Cockercombe near Over Stowey at about 3pm on Christmas Day after having lunch with their daughter. "We could see straight away there was something wrong and almost immediately we saw the ewe with a deep wound," said Mr Fewings. "Three sheep in all were injured and it must have happened some time after midday when we left because we checked on the flock before we went." This was the third incident of its kind in the last 12 months and now Mr Fewings has warned that he will not hesitate to shoot any dogs caught worrying his flock in the future. "I don't blame the dogs - it's the owners. But I am not prepared to put up with this any longer and I will shoot if I see any dogs in amongst my flock." Mr Fewings said he had lost a number of sheep in the previous incidents and he was also concerned that following the latest attack some of the ewes could lose their lambs. "They're just beginning to lamb now so this was not a good time for this to happen. "The situation with the sheep worrying is just getting worse all the time and it can't continue. "I have no option but to take some tough action." Mr Fewings said the fields in which sheep were kept on his 225-acre holding were all enclosed so the animals had nowhere to escape to when dogs got in. His land also backs right onto the public car park at Cockercombe, a popular location for people walking on the hills. "I don't mind seeing dogs up here but people have to be responsible when there is stock in the area. "There are signs on the gates and dog owners really must take responsibility." In one of the earlier incidents Mr Fewings was able to confront the owner of a dog caught worrying. "She just said she didn't realise there were sheep around but there are signs all over the place. "I'm just fed up with this happening."
