A sheep has died from stress after being chased by a dog.
The incident took place at Queendown Warren Nature Reserve in Hartlip, where Kent Wildlife Trust grazes cattle, sheep and ponies.
While the Hebridean sheep had not been bitten, the trust says experts confirmed it showed signs of severe distress consistent with being chased by an “out of control” dog.
The stress led to its tongue swelling and the animal died from exhaustion shortly after the incident.
Wilder grazing ranger Jess Allam said: “This is a tragic example of the damage dogs can do without even making physical contact.
“While it may seem like a dog is playing, they are still predators, and the stress they cause to grazing animals can be fatal.
“We urge dog owners to be responsible and keep their pets on leads when visiting nature reserves and areas with livestock.”
“We will soon be welcoming lambs to our reserves, making it more important than ever for dog owners to act responsibly.
“Keeping dogs on leads not only protects wildlife and livestock but also ensures a better visitor experience for everyone.”
Footage has also been captured of three off-the-lead dogs barking at ponies at Pegwell Bay in Ramsgate, causing visible distress.
A spokesman for the trust says that, despite repeated staff requests, these incidents remain a “persistent issue” at the site.
