Sheep chased off cliff - CAUTION: Graphic images

Tuesday 06 February 2018

A number of sheep have been left injured after being chased off a cliff, allegedly by a dog.

Some needed their injuries stapled closed during emergency treatment at Isabelle Vets following the shocking incident on Sunday.

The animals were grazing in fields near Prevote Tower, on Guernsey's south coast when they disappeared. 

Their owner, Marcel Worley, along with his wife Kate and son Alfie, had to clamber down cliff paths to reach some of the sheep, which were found "tangled in brambles and scrub having been severely mauled."

Mr Worley said they have been grazing on fields adjacent to the Prevote tower since early November and he hasn't had any problems previously. He believes the rams were  chased from the field and "after searching for them around the numerous fields we extended our search to the cliff paths in the area where my wife found the injured sheep tangled in brambles and scrub having been severely mauled. We then retraced my wifes steps towards the Corbiere and I picked up more tracks with further investigation I found two more stricken sheep.

"I had two choices: ring for help to lift them up with ropes etc or go it alone. Both scenarios were risky and you can only guess how the animals will react. I positioned my wife on the edge of an outcrop (near Corbiere) with a view to directing them back up to the relative safety of the path where my 10 year old boy was waiting to guide them back towards the stricken sheep and the tower."

Mr Worley said he had to climb up to reach the sheep so he could herd them down the cliff to then return them up to the path but they didn't immediately go back up: "Kate managed to stop them leaving herself in a precarious position. I swapped places with her to push them up to the path and Alfie sent them back towards the tower. I then rescued the injured lamb and sent him up the path in the hope he'd join the other two with instructions not to chase him but to keep sight of him.

"We got to a fork in the path so we split up. I stumbled across the fourth one who was panicking, charging towards the cliff edge and myself, the two that were down the cliff were now 20ft up from our position. I positioned myself between him and the cliff and after spotting the other two by the tower he proceeded to join them. At this point I thought this was the injured sheep but without getting a proper look I couldn't identify him. Much to our surprise the fire brigade arrived, and one of them spoke to Alfie to ask for information. The injured sheep then went into the field adjacent to the tower."

Alfie was able to direct the emergency service to help in the search for the remaining injured sheep. Mr Worley said "Alfie was an integral part of the rescue mission":

"He carried on in pursuit of the injured ram lamb but lost sight of him. I proceeded to herd the three I had towards the car park and up the road. Stopping to speak to a fireman to fill him in with what we had achieved. The three sheep returned to the field where they originated from and having stopped for breath I was able to identify that the sheep still missing was the injured one, as he and his brother were almost identical. We coordinated with the firemen in the fields and on the paths to search for the injured sheep and Alfie's information helped us track down the remaining animal. As we were heading back to the road I checked a gap in the hedge to find the lamb caught up in blackthorns, I lunged to catched it but it panicked and pushed itself through the scrub. Worried it might find itself back to the cliffs I dived into the black thorn and captured him. Once I'd fought my way to the field one of the fireman held him till I got out of the scrub and another fireman went to get my truck and trailer. Alfie then held the lamb so I could get some rope and tie the injured ram lamb in the trailer so we could use him as a decoy to load the other three."

Pictured: One of the sheep found injured on the cliff face.

The fire crew left the family to it at this point, but Mr Worley said even when the animals had all been rescued he had trouble loading them back into his trailer as they were so distressed:

"They bolted over two hedges and back towards the tower, having lost sight of them we headed back towards the Corbiere but no sign, nor by the tower, they'd ran across the car park and through a gap in the fence and were now on the edge of the cliff in front of the tower on the loose stone. I flanked them and herded them around the tower and a cyclist headed them back up the road. We then herded them in the trailer and took them away. I then took the injured ram lamb to vets where between us we administered pain relief and proceeded to staple him back together. He's now recuperating and on antibiotics." 

CAUTION: The link below contains graphic images: 

Mr Worley thanked the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service, Isabelle Vets and the GSPCA who all helped with the rescue. His sheep are recovering from their injuries and the traumatic experience. 

Manager of the GSPCA Steve Byrne told Express this is a sadly all-too-common occurrence. 

He said: "Sadly every year the GSPCA are called out to a small number of incidents where livestock have been attacked by dogs that aren't under control or have run off from their owners.

"The GSPCA run dog training classes and would urge all owners to ensure that their dogs are trained and under control to prevent incidents such as this from occurring.

"We see an average 150 to 200 stray dogs every year and although we often find their owners quickly when loose they can put other animals and themselves a risk."