AN ALPACA farmer in Malmesbury has pleaded with people to keep their dogs on leads around livestock after a young animal from his flock was killed.

Phillip Neal, 64, who works at Abbey View Farm said that a five month old male alpaca was savaged by what he can only assume was a dog on Friday night.

The farm run by Phillip’s wife, Deborah Neal, breeds alpacas as pets and for their wool and the pair have never had an incident like this in the 14 years they have been at the site.

Phillip said: “This little chap was running around happily on Friday night but we found him Saturday morning with bites all up his back right leg and the skin on his hip was taken up to the bone.

“I can’t say definitely that it was a dog but we couldn’t think what else could have done it.”

The pair fear for the safety of their four remaining crias, the name for a young alpaca, and have even given thought to exercising their right to shoot dogs worrying their livestock.

“I have a gun and a gun licence. I love dogs but I have been considering whether or not I will need to take drastic action,” said Phillip.

Alpacas usually give birth to only one cria at a time and are pregnant for 11 or 12 months while their baby grows.

Alpacas can live for as long as 21 years so the five month old cria’s life was cut tragically short by the vicious attack.