Fears raised after sheep shot with crossbow in north Carmarthenshire

A SHEEP is recovering after an arrow was shot through its stomach in the latest in a series of crossbow attacks in north Carmarthenshire.

It was one of a number of animals, belonging to Trawsnant farmer Roger Davies, that have been targeted over the past fortnight.

Sadly one had to be put down, despite initially surviving an arrow through its head.

Another found wandering the field with an arrow straight through her middle has survived.

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Jackie Brown, who works for the farmer, said: “We went up to check on the sheep about two weeks ago and found two dead with these arrows in them.

“It’s a public right of way and open ground in certain parts, so is very accessible.”

Jackie said the surviving sheep was found during a “gather” of the animals.

“We brought her home, there was an arrow straight through her middle, and she survived,” she said.

“After that, we had another gather on another part of the hill. That’s when we found the sheep with an arrow through the front of her eye, and out through her nose.

“She’s since been put down.”

Jackie said the “biggest message” was to warn other farmers across Carmarthenshire about the attacks.

She said she was unaware of such attacks happening before.

She said she was concerned that a stray arrow could end up injuring a member of the public as well as the animals.

“If it’s someone local, it could carry on,” she said. “But even if it’s people who have come for a holiday, what’s to say they won’t come back with more? Nobody really knows yet who it is.”

Jackie said she was also concerned as to where the weapon and the arrows it uses could have come from.

“The arrows for it look home-made,” she added.

“The bits on the end of them, you can buy over the internet.

“They’ve got four blades on them, they are grotesque.”

She called on a change in the law to stop the blades being sold.

“You’re not allowed to hunt with them [crossbows], so what reason are they being sold for?” she said. “Shouldn’t the law do something about it?”

Inspector Andy Rees, of Dyfed Powys Police, confirmed reports of the attacks.

He said: “Appropriate advice has been given and I’d ask that anyone who sees anything suspicious in this area that they think we should know about to please contact us on 101.”

rachel.moses@swwmedia.co.uk