The dog had been allowed to roam free around The Reserve – home to a North Coast-based flock of rare Manx Loaghtan sheep – despite numerous signs warning of sheep and lambs, and that all dogs, “…must be kept on a lead whilst on this site.”
It subsequently took to chasing the flock of sheep, startling two lambs to such an extent that they fell over the edge of a rock-face – unfortunately not the first time that such a tragedy had struck the area. According to The Reserve’s Allison Le Couteur, “Sadly the two lambs, who were just a few months old, did not survive.”
The two lambs were part of a unique flock of Manx Loaghtans, a rare breed of brown sheep with up to six horns thought to be the now-extinct Jersey sheep’s closest living relative. Originally established with just 20 ewes and two rams by the Natural Trust, the Sorel-based conservation flock are now “thriving” with around 200 – around 10% of the breed’s total population in Britain – and are helping to manage problem plants in their grazing area.
Pictured: One of the Manx Loaghtan flock grazing at The Reserve.
This rare status made it all the more “devastating” for the tragedy to have struck the “special flock”, Ms Le Couteur added.
Having witnessed the “very sad” incident, one islander took to Facebook to denounce the “inconsiderate owner.”
“[The] dog was off its lead where it shouldn’t be and was chasing sheep/lambs. Two lambs were trying to escape and unfortunately went over the edge of the cliff. The owner eventually caught the dog and then reprimanded IT!!! It’s not the dog’s fault that it was allowed to be off the lead,” they commented.
Other islanders heaped on criticism, calling for the owner to compensate The Reserve, or even be sued. One slammed the behaviour as “disgusting”, adding, “If you cannot control your pet, do not have one! Such a sad situation.”
Video: The Reserve’s Aaron Le Couteur explains the special part the Manx Loaghtan sheep play on Jersey’s North Coast.
Several other Facebookers claimed that it was not the first time that an owner taking their dog off the lead had reached a tragic conclusion. “That is so awful ! Poor animals !! Some Dog owners have no conscious ! We had a dog attacking our ducks and geese last year, never found the culprit but the dog must have been covered in blood, so upsetting for us !!” one said.
But for Mrs Le Couteur, the most important thing is for dog owners to remember to heed warnings in the area to avoid further “traumatic” occurrences.
“The only good that can come out of this event is for increased public awareness as to why these sheep are there and the important work they are doing for our beautiful coast and for the benefit of our native wildlife. The majority of dog owners are incredibly supportive and responsible and for that we are appreciative, but we obviously still have work to do to reach out to the minority,” she told Express.
Pictured: It’s not the first time islanders had been warned to use a lead on their dogs around the Island’s coasts following the story of cocker spaniel Bailey in February.
Police have been notified of the incident, and are said to be looking into it.
