A SHEEP has been killed after being badly injured in a suspected dog attack in East Bierley.

The ewe was badly mauled with her nose ripped off complete with her upper teeth in the attack on Friday.

Four or five teenagers were seen in the area at about 3.30pm with two dogs - a bull lurcher type, and a terrier.

PC Caroline Newsome, a Wildlife Crime Officer with West Yorkshire Police, reported the incident.

She said: "Although I don’t know for certain, I suspect they were there poaching for rabbits.

"I took a call from a very distressed member of the public, stating they’d found the sheep with its face ripped off, blood everywhere.

"I can’t imagine the suffering this poor ewe went through, and those responsible just callously left it.

"The ewe's nose had been completely ripped off, in one piece, complete with upper teeth.

"The farmer attended, and was clearly upset, and the ewe was taken away to end its misery."

She stressed that owners should keep dogs on a lead around livestock adding: "The most placid of dogs, can suddenly act on impulse.

"Why oh why, is it so difficult for some owners to put dogs on leads, when walking near livestock! It could so easily have been avoided."