A BARNSLEY farmer is asking for information after three of his livestock were fatally mauled last weekend - and he admits it’s getting ‘harder and harder’ to make a living.
Paul Edwards, 80, is the owner of White Cross Farm in Worsbrough and has livestock situated on Spark Lane in Mapplewell.
In recent months, he’s reported multiple incidents to the police after his sheep were attacked - seemingly by dogs.
But he’s yet to receive any information.
Last Sunday morning he arrived to see the worst attack yet.
He told the Chronicle: “It’s happened a few times, on and off since May.
“It must be someone who has dogs.
“I’m not sure if it’s a pack of dogs or what but it keeps happening.
“The first incident left the sheep with no ears, the second now has no ears and it’s neck was all out and then on Sunday was the worst.
“We’ve got three sheep which have died and five which were left half-dead.”
Paul admits when he arrived at the farm he was left sick to his stomach.
“It just makes you feel sick when you see it,” he said.
“I must admit that I had to lay down on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s the stress and the shock of everything.
“We’ve enough going off without something like this happening.”
He said that it’s getting harder and harder to make a living as a farmer - and incidents like this make it ten times worse.
He added: “It’s just so depressing.
“I’ve been doing this all of my life.
“I’m getting older and that’s obviously making it harder but all this is making it worse.
“It’s frustrating.
“It’s hard enough as it is without something like this happening.”
Paul says he’s staked out at the farm on a night but to no avail - and he’s asking for the public’s help.
“Someone must know something about it,” he said.
“It’s either someone going down willingly with a pack of dogs or it’s one dog.
“If it’s one dog then the owners will know because it will come back covered in blood.
“We just want some information.”
Inspector Kieran Frain, whose team is involved with rural crime-related matters, told the Chronicle: “We understand the devastating impact rural crime has on people living and working in our countryside.
“It can massively impact people’s livelihoods and tackling it remains a priority for our force.
“An investigation into reports of sheep being found dead and injured near Spark Lane is ongoing and officers have been out to the scene to provide the victim with support.
“We are following all available lines of enquiry and I want to make it clear that we are stronger with your help.
“If you think you can support our investigation, please report online or call 101, quoting incident number 281 of September 21.”
