A savage dog attack on more than 50 lambs at a Waimate property has highlighted an issue of dog control in the Waimate District.
Two American pit bull terriers savaged 53 sheep in a leased paddock at the Waimate Racecourse early on Saturday.
Thirty-nine died at the scene. Another 14 were assessed as at risk and were yesterday awaiting their fate.
Waimate District Council dog control was called to the ''horrific'' scene about 8am on Saturday.
Dog control officer Karen Buchanan said a tan-coloured pit bull was still attacking the sheep when they arrived.
It was shot in the act, while a white pit bull, which escaped their grasp, was later surrendered by its owner and put down.
Most of the victims of the attack were lambs, worth about $85 each. One two-tooth ewe, worth $120, was also mauled.
Under the Dog Control Act 1996, the owner of the two dogs is liable for any costs for the damage caused by the attack.
For a district with about 3000 registered dogs, the numbers of wandering dogs and attacks were high, Mrs Buchanan said.
''Wandering dogs is a big problem for our area,'' she said.
Since July 1, 2013, Waimate District Council dog control has had reports of 342 wandering dogs, 78 more than the 2012-13 total.
There have been 28 reported dog attacks and 10 dog attacks on people for the 2013-2014 year, compared to 19 and two attacks in the previous year, respectively.
''People just need to be aware to keep their dogs under control at all times,'' Mrs Buchanan said.
''Any dog does have the potential to attack stock ... people need to be aware of the responsibilities of owning those dogs.''
Semi-retired farmers Tim and Errol Kennedy, were still in shock yesterday after the ''unbelievable'' attack on their stock.
A neighbour alerted them to the ''carnage'' at about 7.30am.
''It was dreadful, absolutely dreadful,'' Mrs Kennedy said.
''I couldn't go out there.''
There were 85 sheep in the paddock at the time. The couple run about 300 in total.
The semi-retired farmers love dogs and own four, but stressed the importance of keeping them under control.
With an extensive farming background, they have had one or two incidents of dog attacks in the past, but they could never have imagined something on this scale.
''You have to put it behind you, but it's not easy,'' she said.
''We will never forget what's happened.''
