Kakanui farmer and landowner Carmen Brenssell was devastated early last week to find carnage after dogs in an overnight worrying spree had driven stud dairy heifers through fences.
One heifer died a horrific death after being tangled in an electric fence while fleeing the dogs.
"They get electric shocks all night and die through that, because electric shocks ... boil the blood."
A second heifer had to be put down after it was severely injured after being caught in fencing.
It was just the latest incident where dogs left to run free on a neighbouring beach had led to the deaths of cattle.
Last year, the family lost 10 sheep to dog attacks on their property, Mrs Brenssell said.
She said seemingly unaware dog owners not in control of their dogs were the issue.
"It’s people walking along the beach with town dogs — they think their dogs have gone up on the hill for a poo and they’re up killing sheep and lambs.
"We take them back to the owner covered in blood and they’re busy yapping on the beach, having no idea of anything," she said.
The dead stock from the latest attack were being run on the coastal strip just south of Kakanui township, between Campbell’s Bay and All Day Bay.
Mrs Brenssell said the heifers had been chased through two fences on the night of October 13.
The following day, she took to social media, appealing for dog sightings as she needed firm identification in order to take the matter further.
It was not the first time the 170ha Dalgety and Brenssell family farming operation had fallen victim to dog attacks.
"We’ve lost thousands of dollars worth of stock over the last 10 years."
Her father, Bruce Dalgety, who used to run the farm, had also lost stock to dogs coming on to the property from the beach.
"It’s been ongoing and it’s always been frustrating," she said.
The family had considered not running stock on their land adjoining the coast as a result.
The latest attack happened on a part of their property leased to another farmer.
"He’s got top breeding stock, so it’ll be a lot of money he’s losing," Mrs Brenssell said.
The heifers that died had suffered greatly.
She said the Waitaki District Council had done an "amazing" job over the years to support them, but in the latest incident they had been unable to identify the particular dogs to formally make a complaint to the council.
Council animal management senior compliance officer Tristan Hope said stock attacks caused great stress.
He said dog owners needed to be more vigilant as they risked having their pets destroyed.
Dog owners could also be fined up to $3000, risked court-ordered destruction and could be prevented from owning a dog.
