In short:
A WA farmer says up to 80 of his sheep have been killed in a series of suspected dog attacks over the last five months.
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Industry leaders say dog attacks are a community concern, with domesticated dogs still at risk of following instincts.
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The Shire of Plantagenet has launched an investigation hoping to prosecute those responsible.
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A West Australian farmer says he is processing a devastating financial and emotional cost after 80 of his sheep were killed in suspected dog attacks.
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Warning: This article contains graphic content, including descriptions and photographs of dead lambs.
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Brad Cluett farms sheep in Porongurup, 385 kilometres south-east of Perth, where he breeds lambs from Merino ewes and white Suffolk rams.
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He said the attacks have been going on for months.
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"We've been seeing lambs being taken and bitten on the top of the head and killed, other larger sheep attacked around the face and bleeding to death," he said.
"
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It's been some shocking sights we've had to endure."
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The worst attack, in May, left Mr Cluett to deal with the bodies of 40 lambs and 10 ewes.
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attack → leave → lambs
"Going on lambing percentages in that mob, they were down 40 per cent," he said.
"
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While unable to identify the exact breed involved, he believes the nature of the injuries to the animals indicates a domesticated dog is responsible.
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"I spotted a dog, probably 400 metres away," he said.
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I did try to chase after it, but I was in another paddock … never caught up with it."
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He said neighbouring properties had reported similar attacks, with an emu and young alpaca injured near Porongurup Village.
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The attacks have had a knock-on effect on his flock, with sheep moving about a kilometre from their usual site.
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Ewes have also abandoned lambs, with pregnant animals miscarrying due to the stress.
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Mr Cluett said the emotional cost came on top of increasing financial losses.
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"We're looking after these animals for 12 months of the year and then coming across and seeing all these losses," he said.
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A wider concern
While wild dog and dingo attacks have prompted statewide responses, attacks by domesticated animals present a more localised problem.
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WA Farmers president Steve McGuire says instincts can take over any animal.
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"This has always been a concern in areas where farmland and towns intersect," he said.
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"Some people think their pet dogs won't hurt a fly, but they might go up and 'play' with a lamb and end up killing them.
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"We've got working dogs, but we still have to keep a close eye on them."
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Dog attacks have also been reported in Katanning, about 280km south east of Perth.
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Katanning Saleyard manager Rod Bushell said while such attacks were concerning, they were infrequent and usually resolved quickly.
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"A month or so ago, we had town dogs on the edge of town attacking sheep," he said.
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"You hear about it probably once or twice a year, but often it doesn't go far because they are either caught by the ranger or … it ceases pretty quickly."
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Shire of Plantagenet chief executive Garry Bird said the attacks were under investigation, and they were hoping to track down the animal responsible.
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"We do have these incidents from time to time, and generally we are able to catch the dogs and deal with their owners," he said.
"
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(If found) we would certainly look to initiate a prosecution against the owner and try to recover the livestock losses."
In the meantime, farmers are left to keep a close eye on their livestock in the hopes of catching the culprit.
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"We get up and check the sheep regularly, particularly when they're lambing," Mr Cluett said.
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"Is [the next attack] going to be tomorrow or the next day or in a week's time?
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"It does play on our minds, and we'd like to get to the bottom of it."
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The Aporia