Dogs roaming a Ranfurly paddock where they allegedly mauled two sheep have been brought to the attention of Maniototo Community Board members.

The issue was raised at the community board meeting last week, where members discussed their concerns, particularly around whether the two dogs - a mother and her pup - were being restrained correctly following the incident.

The incident was reported to Central Otago District Council (CODC) team leader enforcement and animal control Ryan Parker, who has confirmed the sheep were euthanized due to their injuries.

CODC assigns a service request for Animal Control to investigate such reports. In this instance, Animal Control was advised directly by the police, Ryan said.

He confirmed the adult dog has been classified as menacing and was now required to wear a muzzle when it is off its property, or in a public place.

Both dogs are of mixed breed, with the adult registered as a Catahoula Leopard cross.

One community board member said the dogs have continued to roam since the incident.

Maniototo Community Board chair Rob Hazlett was concerned if the owner did not follow the rules, the next victim could be a child.

“If it’s the wrong time of the day, it gets hold of a kid, what’s going to happen?”

Deputy chair Mark Harris agreed, noting the dogs in question were known to advance on people and bark.

He said it would only take a young child to be approached by one of the dogs, which could terrify a young person, causing them to squeal, turn and run.

“[Then] she’s all on.”

Ryan urges anyone who notices a dog behaving aggressively to contact CODC and try to obtain photographic evidence of any offence if it was safe to do so.