Fear of Dog Attack

So far four sheep belonging to Gillian Stone have been killed, and a fifth, Buffy, was mauled and now appears to have suffered nerve damage.

Gillian's account of the death of her beloved Darcy was published in the Observer, and she has found a new temporary home for her small flock of Southdown ewes and lambs thanks to the kindness of Observer readers.

She has given the names of four people who witnessed the attack when Darcy was killed and is now waiting to see the outcome of police investigations.

Her own pets are "nice and safe" but she claims other animals in the vicinity are now under threat.

"There is a horse at the bottom of the field with a bad injury - an 18" gash on its leg where it has run through a wire fence - and neighbours who keep horses are very worried now.

"This was a fairly steady horse in a field by itself.

"But we will have to see...we haven't got any evidence but it is a bit of a coincidence."

A local mother who did not want to be named "for fear of reprisals" told the Observer she was so concerned about the dogs that she had banned her two children from playing in the field or woods.

She said: "I am worried for our animals, and I am worried for my children."

Gillian is planning to campaign for changes in the law relating to attacks by dogs and is to meet MP Greg Barker on January 11. She has also written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and is posting her petition on the Downing Street website.