Trap catches suspected sheep killers

ON THE MOVE: Guy Rietveld, with help from son Kees and neighbour Ruth Henderson, secures his two remaining sheep for their evacuation from suburban Christchurch after three lambs were killed by a dog.

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Two dogs have been captured overnight, following a series of attacks on sheep in Dallington.

A cage baited with meat was set last night and the two dogs are now in the custody of Animal Control.

The trap was set after three lambs belonging to Dallington resident Guy Rietveld were killed last week.

Rietveld, who has kept livestock on a neighbouring suburban lot for 28 years, sent his two surviving sheep, Gloria and Woolly, to his son's Marshland lifestyle block after the attacks.

Rietveld said it was the first time his animals had been attacked.

Resident Kim King lost her six chickens on Saturday night.

"The dog obviously has a taste for blood now because it just ripped them out of the coop, but didn't eat them," she said.

Neighbours were sad the animals had to leave.

Ruth Henderson said her two-year-old daughter loved the lambs.

"[We] walk past a couple of times a week and pet the sheep," she said.

"It has been lovely watching the lambs grow. It is a bit of the country in the city.

"It is just terrible. It is a shame they are not going to be here."

Lynette Ferriss was also upset. "It's just tragic. My children have enjoyed those animals. It's been a real thing for the community, everybody takes their kids past to feed them".

- © Fairfax NZ News