A series of armed police units descended on a Cheshire farm following reports that a vicious dog had attacked and killed almost two dozen sheep.
Eight officers responded to the incident in Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, with five carrying shotguns and assault rifles as they arrived in full tactical gear including helmets and utility vests.
Alan Jackson, the 65-year-old farmer who lost his livestock in the attack, acknowledged the response may have been excessive under the circumstances.
"It was a little bit OTT, I must admit," Mr Jackson told the Daily Mail.
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"But nevertheless they did come, but when they got there, the disaster had already happened, and the dog was long gone."
The attack occurred on December 18 at around 1pm when a dog entered Mr Jackson's field.
By the time police arrived, 19 sheep had already been killed.
A further two animals had to be put down when a knackerman arrived to remove the carcasses, and another two died in the days that followed.
The bloodbath saw 23 sheep killed on the Cheshire farm
|GETTY
The financial toll exceeded £4,400, comprising £4,140 for the 23 sheep valued at £180 each, plus £276 for carcass disposal at £12 per animal, along with a full day spent clearing up.
Mr Jackson believes the dog responsible is kept as a "status symbol".
He said: "It's kept for a reason - it isn't a pet."
The incident has exposed a significant gap in legislation that leaves Mr Jackson with limited options for pursuing the killer dog's owner.
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Eight officers responded to the incident with five carrying shotguns and assault rifles
|GETTY
New powers under The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act are scheduled to come into force on March 18.
The law grants enables officers to enter premises and collect DNA and other forensic evidence from dogs suspected of worrying livestock.
But this timing means the enhanced powers arrive precisely three months after Mr Jackson's sheep were killed.
"I don't think legal action will come of it," Mr Jackson said.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "At around 1pm Thursday December 18, police were called to reports that a dog had attacked a number of sheep on a farm on Bradford Lane, Nether Alderley.
"Officers from the Rural Crime Team attended the scene and found that 21 sheep had been killed by an unknown dog.
"Armed police also attended the scene, but no firearms were dispatched.
"If you saw the livestock attack in progress or suspect this was your dog and want to do the right thing, please contact us via 101 quoting the crime reference 25001031283."
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