Devon farmers ‘devastated’ after dogs attack alpacas

A Devon alpaca farmer is pleading with dog owners to keep their pets on a leash after two dogs attacked and killed one of his young animals and seriously injured three others.

Mark and Sam Norman, of Lakemoor Alpacas in Buckfastleigh, said the attack on their herd of 49 animals had left them devastated.

The alpaca killed was a five-month-old baby named Lady Penelope.

The incident was reported to the police.

An older alpaca, called Bonnie, was among the three seriously injured when she tried to protect the youngsters in the group, Mr Norman said.

“I’m very much a herd animal,” he said.

“She came in and put herself between that child and the dogs.

“It probably saved the lives of the other babies in the field.”

Mr Norman said the alpacas were often taken to visit schools and care homes and became more than just farm animals.

“Many of you will know how special these alpacas are to us and how we know all their quirky individual characters and have special names for them all – these alpacas are our family and we are devastated by this incident,” he said. .

The owners witnessed the attacks and intervened to stop several injured animals.

“It’s so sad,” Mr Norman said.

“And it’s completely, completely avoidable.

“If people keep dogs on leashes, we wouldn’t have attacks on animals.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an alpaca or a sheep, it’s completely avoidable.

“It’s just heartbreaking when something like this happens to us.”

Farm insurers NFU Mutual said around £2.4m worth of farm animals were seriously injured or killed by dogs in 2023, up almost 30% on the previous year.