A WOMAN whose pet dogs were shot after they were found running loose near sheep at a Crondall farm is calling for a change in legislation.

The woman, who did not wish to be identified, is still recovering from the distress of losing her pets, a German Shepherd (Louis) and a Lakeland terrier (Sonny).

She has demanded that the law is changed to ensure that domestic animals can only be shot using tranquillizer darts.

She said: "The current law says that it is OK for farmers to shoot to kill if dogs are on their land. I don't think that is right. We have been through hell, those dogs were like family to us."

The dogs were shot on Sunday (February 22) at Lower Old Park Farm on Dora's Green Lane.

Farmers Tim and Claire Murray were featured in The Herald in November of last year after four of their sheep were killed by dogs.

Mr Murray explained that this was not the first time that the two dogs had worried his livestock.

He said: "The sheep have no way of defending themselves. These dogs had been running wild in our fields before. In September 2002, we found them and managed to hold them until the owners came to collect them. We warned the owners at that time that they should keep the dogs on leads in future. The community police officer, Pc Alex Batton, said if it happened again we would be well within our rights to shoot the animals."

In the most recent incident, all of the sheep in the field were in the middle of their lambing season. Although none had been bitten by the dogs, he said there is a risk that they may still abort the lambs. There is an additional risk that some lambs may have died in the womb, a common problem that happens when ewes endure stress.

Mrs Murray said: "I was very distressed, I couldn't sleep and I couldn't eat. We have dogs of our own and Tim was not out to murder these animals. The fact that no one was around at the time and that we had seen these dogs in the field before made Tim take the action he did."

She added that the sheep had already been so distressed that they had grouped together and stampeded through two fences.

"They were very scared, especially after the attack that happened in November. We have to think of the welfare of our animals, we do not want them to suffer and they are our livelihood."

In response to the dog owner's calls for a change in legislation, they said they were unsure how well it would work.

"This will not stop the dog from coming back," Mr Murray added. "We've been told that once they have attacked they will be at risk of doing it again. The only way to stop this from happening is to make sure owners keep their pets on leads, especially large and boisterous dogs who can do serious damage."

Meanwhile, the distraught dog owner maintained that pets need exercise and stimulation.

"Farmers should make sure their fields are secure, so dogs can't get in," she said.

The two dogs were buried in their owner's home and the family are trying to recover from the loss.

"Those dogs meant everything to us. Louis would go everywhere with my partner. The house feels empty. It has been such a dreadful time."

She added that she will consider writing to her local MP to campaign for a change in the law.

Under current legislation, the Animals Act 1971, a farmer can kill or injure a dog if it is worrying or about to worry the livestock, or if the dog had been worrying livestock and not left the vicinity, and was not under the control of any person.