A FRIEND was walking her dog on Dartmoor recently, when she came across a farmer with his lamb, which had been horrifically injured with huge wounds and its whole body torn open. The poor lamb was incredibly still alive and in terrible pain, bleating pitifully. The farmer was in tears as he put the animal out of its misery. The lamb had been attacked by a dog and just left to die. Last week a dog was shot dead by a farmer after he found it worrying his sheep. Legally, a farmer is entitled to shoot any dog that is chasing or worrying his livestock. Dogs are descended from wild wolves, and still have killer or wild instincts in them, some to chase animals, however sweet or domesticated these pets may appear. The dog doesn't know any better, and it's not the dog's fault — why should it be shot and lose its life, because the owner hasn't trained it or looked after it responsibly whilst taking it for a walk? The owner is at fault. Generally, the majority of dog owners I meet whilst walking my dog on Dartmoor and elsewhere have well behaved and controlled dogs. It is just a few irresponsible owners who should know better. Presumably if they own dogs they are also animal lovers so why put other animals' lives at risk? Many dogs are also chased by other dogs off the lead whilst walking, and some have been killed or injured as a result by another dog and their owners injured whilst trying to protect their pet and separate the two dogs. This cannot keep happening. Not all farmers are able to bring their ewes in during lambing and they have the right to graze their livestock on Dartmoor. They also have the right to have their livestock unmolested and not chased whilst doing so. All dogs should be on a lead during the lambing/bird breeding season from March 1 – July 31 and all year round near farm animals. If you can't rely on your dog's obedience, or it can run off out of your sight, then it must to be on a lead to stop more killing or injury. As dog owners we ALL have the responsibility of ensuring that our much-loved pet is kept under close control at all times, and don't  put it in any situation where it can end up being shot and killed. If you witness a dog chasing/worrying/ injuring livestock please phone the police on 101 or Karla McKechnie, the Livestock Protection Officer, on 07873 587561 with the location (grid ref. if possible), description of dog/owner/vehicle registration and type of livestock, injuries and colour/markings. It would also be an improvement to see big signs at Dartmoor entrances and on all Dartmoor car parks saying: The feeding of ponies is illegal (tourists often don't know this and the implications). Dogs must be kept on leads if owners can't rely on their obedience or they can't be controlled and run off, and always near any farm animals, especially between lambing/bird breeding season March 1 — 31 July. No motorist is allowed to exceed 40mph as there are animals on the road which can be killed or injured as a result of speeding over this limit. (12 animals in January were killed in one month). I will also be asking any potential councillors asking for my vote what they will be doing to put measures in place to sort out this big problem. Marysu Godfrey Whitchurch