Blood bath
Sheep found slaughtered at Cedar farm

By Sandra Steilo
Daily News
Nanaimo

Tuesday, November 26, 2002

A Cedar family is devastated after five of its sheep were found slaughtered on their hobby farm.

Camilla McGuire was about to drive her children to school last week when she noticed one of her six sheep was lying down in the field.

When she went over to investigate, she was shocked to see it was bleeding and had been viciously attacked.

"It was like a blood bath," McGuire said, her voice breaking. "There were wounds and bites all over. It's back and rear end and hind-quarters had been ripped open."

All six of their sheep had been attacked over night, last Wednesday. McGuire said her family never heard a sound. They believe it was dogs that attacked because of the lacerations found on the animals are typical of dog attacks, she said. They weren't eaten like a cougar would have and all the animals had been attacked.

She called the police and the RCMP and it was determined that three of the sheep needed to be euthanised immediately. A veterinarian was called and another needed to be put down.

On Sunday, the family favourite, a ewe named Lily died and was buried on the property. A ram is still fighting for its life.

"We're absolutely devastated," McGuire said. "We raised every single one of them from the time they were very small. Lily more than just a sheep, she was part of the family.

"Now we are hoping the ram will live. He's all we have."

McGuire and her family are searching for information on whose dogs may have attacked. She said police can't do anything because there are no witnesses.

She has gone door to door warning her neighbours many of whom have animals that there are dangerous dogs in the area.

"Next time it could be a child that's attacked, people should know those dogs are out there," McGuire said. "Because of the extreme trauma and all the blood, someone must have known what happened."

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