In another attack, domestic dogs are believed to be responsible for the savage mauling of 24 sheep at a farm in Waikouaiti yesterday morning.
News of the Milton attack had not been widely reported at the time but details will surface today in a report on the issue to be tabled at the Clutha District Council's regulatory services committee meeting.
Planning and environment manager Murray Brass said a Table Hill farmer called the council on July 9 to say two dogs had been shot because they had been attacking his stock.
He estimated between 50 and 100 sheep had been killed, most by smothering after being chased into a gully.
A farm worker saw the attack and shot both dogs - a terrier and a German shepherd - which had no collars or tags.
The farmer has since confirmed 220 sheep, mostly ewes in lamb, were killed.
The day before, two dogs matching the descriptions of those shot had been reported wandering in the area.
In his report, Mr Brass said it appeared the dogs had wandered between 10km and 15km through or around Milton and up to the Table Hill area.
Both dogs were registered but lost their collars and tags during their journey.
Mr Brass said the council had considered its options on what further action it could take.
"While this was a serious attack, we have not taken enforcement action ourselves because, although the dog owners were negligent in allowing the dogs to wander, the dogs were registered and well looked after and the owners had been attempting find their dogs."
Reparation for the loss of the sheep was likely to be much higher than any potential fine and the dogs had already been destroyed, which was "effectively the ultimate penalty available", he said.
Mr Brass said the case dramatically highlighted the importance of owners controlling their dogs and showed the "very serious repercussions" that could occur if dogs were not controlled.
"Unfortunately, as this case and many others have shown, all dogs are capable of such actions and all dogs need to be properly controlled.
"We have put significant effort in recent times to get across the message that all owners need to adequately control their dogs.
"Hopefully, this case will serve as a reminder to other owners of the importance of this."
Waikouaiti police are on the hunt for domestic dogs they believe are responsible for the savage mauling of 24 sheep at a farm in the township yesterday.
Farmer Paul Bartlett lost an estimated $3000 worth of 12-month-old sheep after he had to kill about 11 sheep.
Another eight were already dead when he arrived on the scene.
The throats and hindquarters of the sheep had been savaged in the attack and many were suffering when he arrived.
The attack was thought to have occurred about 5am yesterday.
The remaining sheep in the two-hectare paddock might have to be killed as well, he said.
The sheep were about three weeks away from being sent to the freezing works and it was frustrating to have them killed after the effort of raising them, Mr Bartlett said.
Constable Jon-Paul Tremain, of Waikouaiti, said it was the worst attack on sheep he had seen in the two and a-half years he had been in the area.
It was likely two dogs attacked the sheep, but it would be difficult to track down the dogs and their owners, he said.
If dogs were found to be bothering stock farmers were well within their rights to shoot them, he said.
