Tintinhull hobby farmer Robert Langner is the latest to be hit, with two sheep killed and four others mauled on his property this week.

Mr Langner attempted to shoot the dog, believed to be a wolfhound-cross, but missed.

“It’s not just the sheep that were mauled, it’s the stress it puts on all the others,” Mr Langner said.

“They won’t move, they won’t do anything at the moment.

“I’m not the only one this has happened to in this area.

“You put in all the hard work and it’s just heartbreaking to see.”

He urged dog owners in rural areas to be more accountable for their pets.

“In the end, the owner is directly responsible for this because he hasn’t tied the dog up,” Mr Langner said.

Police attended the scene yesterday and are investigating the attack.

Tamworth Police rural crime investigator Detective Senior Constable Scott Kellahan said while domestic dog attacks were not on the same scale as wild dog attacks, it was still critical owners kept an eye on their pets.

“If someone wants to own a dog, they need to take responsibility for it – it’s that simple,” he said.

He said while it was difficult to criminally charge dog owners for such attacks, they could be taken to court for damages under a civil action.