Keep dogs off my land or I’ll shoot them – that is the stark warning from a farmer after one of his sheep was savaged by a husky.

The animal was cornered and mauled to death, after the dog was let off its lead near Neals Place Farm in Canterbury.

Now farm owner Ken Jordan has issued a threat to kill any dogs found roaming on his fields, in order to protect his livestock.

Warning: Graphic image below

He said: “The owner came round looking for her dog which she had been walking in nearby Dukes Meadow. We eventually found it in the sheep field.

“It had cornered one of the sheep up against a fence, bitten its side and pulled its insides out. Then it got it by the throat and the back of the neck.

“It was covered in blood and its bones were showing.

“The other sheep in the field had all flocked together. It was horrible to see.”

Mr Jordan said the owner was apologetic and offered to pay for the sheep, but he thinks the dog should be put down.

He added: “It could be a child next time. Common sense should tell these dog owners it’s against the law to have dogs off leads around farms.

"There are signs about keeping dogs on leads but owners completely ignore them. In future, I will shoot a dog if it’s on my land.”

Earlier this year, police warned owners to keep pets under control after a spate of sheep attacks in the county.

The Animals Act 1971 says farmers are within their rights to kill or injure dogs if they are causing distress to flocks.

PC Daphne Allen said: “Dogs left unattended and off the lead can destroy months of hard work and preparation in just a few minutes.

“We have around six sheep worrying incidents a month throughout Kent, where dogs are not only killing sheep, but are also chasing pregnant ewes, which in turn causes the miscarriage of lambs.

"There are signs about keeping dogs on leads but owners completely ignore them. In future, I will shoot a dog if it’s on my land" - Ken Jordan

“When a dog has a taste for killing and maiming sheep, it often returns. Sadly, we have already had incidents this year where a farmer has reluctantly shot a dog to prevent further attacks.”

It is an offence to have a dog off the lead or out of control in a field where there are sheep.

PC Allen added: “As a dog owner, or a person in charge of a dog, you could be committing an offence if your dog worries livestock on agricultural land.

“Veterinary bills alone can leave a farmer substantially out of pocket and if livestock worrying is proved, the dog owner or person in charge could be liable for damages and compensation.”