Dog off lead sparks alpaca attack nightmare – owner faces £2,000 bill
Alpaca attack leaves one injured, two struggling to walk
On Sunday morning, 17 July, a dog off its lead jumped a barbed wire fence into alpaca land at Hertfordshire’s Herts Alpacas. The unleashed dog chased three alpacas named Regency, Lily, and Holly. One alpaca was seriously hurt and still needs daily treatment four months later. The other two, both 17 years old, are now battling with mobility issues.
Owner warns: “Everyone suffers when a dog attacks livestock”
Alpaca owner Nigel Beckwith blasted careless dog owners, saying: “Farmers are left to pick up the pieces, emotionally and financially. Injured animals often require long-term care or face the heartbreaking choice of euthanasia.”
He added:
“Dog owners risk losing their pets too – farmers can legally shoot dogs attacking livestock. This nightmare can be avoided if dogs are kept on leads, even on seemingly safe, fenced land.”
Dog owner admits guilt, pays up £2,000 compensation
The dog’s owner, a woman in her 60s, cooperated fully with police and accepted responsibility. She agreed to pay £2,000 in damages. Nigel revealed she was “mortified” since her dog had always behaved well with reliable recall, never harmed animals before.
But Nigel issued a stark warning:
“No dog can be trusted 100% of the time. I urge all dog owners to keep your dogs on leads – protect your pets and livestock alike.”
