TWO Waltham Abbey dog owners have agreed to strict conditions relating to dog ownership after their pets killed or injured 20 sheep.

The Rural Engagement Team investigated after police received reports of two dogs attacking livestock in a field in Nazeing on 30 December 2025.

Eight sheep died in the attack and 12 more were injured, some seriously, after the dogs escaped from their home and later ran into a field where a flock of sheep were grazing.

Now the pair – a 40-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman – have both been issued with a community protection warning and the man has received a community resolution to attend a responsible dog ownership course.

Investigating officer PC James Nickless explains that often livestock owners just want to ensure that the dog owners learn from their mistake, rather than see them get a criminal record, and raise awareness of livestock worrying.

“After speaking to the owner of the sheep we agreed a course of action to support responsible dog ownership.

“Victims often want reassurance that incidents like this won’t happen again and that the dog owners take responsibility for what happened.

“If they fail to abide by the conditions of the community protection warning, they could be issued with a community protection notice. A breach of a community protection notice is a criminal offence for which you can be prosecuted. The victim also retains the option to pursue a private prosecution or civil action.”

The community protection warning states that each person must ensure

• their property boundary, including all gates and fences, is safe and secure at all times for two dogs, to ensure they cannot and do not escape from the address
• the dogs are walked on a fixed lead no more than 1.5 metres long at all times in public
• the dogs are not walked by anyone under 16.