Pongaroa farmer Esther Harding in the paddock where the sheep were killed.

The mauling of nine sheep has caused a rift between Pongaroa neighbours with the owner of the suspected culprit refusing to apologise.

Esther Harding returned home to her Huia Rd property east of Pahiatua on Sunday, July 1, to find her neighbour's dogs amongst her sheep.

"I'm driving down in the car and I see the German shepherd with the puppies in the paddock chasing the sheep. At first I thought 'I can't believe this is happening'."

It wasn't until she had rounded up the two-year-old bitch, Cheyenne, and her six puppies that she realised several sheep had been killed.

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"I captured the dogs, while having to care for my three-year-old son, and found sheep carnage."

"It was upsetting to see our pet ram Percy with his leg chewed off. He would have died a painful death being eaten alive by dogs," Harding said.

The dogs' owner Sara Giles admitted that they had been found in the paddock with the mauled sheep but she said there was a possibility that another dog could have been responsible and refused to apologise to the Hardings.

"I don't think that Cheyenne would be capable, within a very short time frame, to be able to kill and take down nine sheep. That doesn't sit right with me," she said.

"My heart goes out to Esther and John that this happened, but I don't think it's fair to completely point the finger at her (Cheyenne)."

Harding was critical that the dog was able to escape and get into her paddocks.

"The sad thing is, we feel that the deaths and needless suffering of our livestock was preventable; had the dog owner taken reasonable steps to provide proper care and a secure environment for their dogs, particularly when going on planned social trips out of town."

Giles said she checked the dog was secure when she left the property two days before and she suspects they could have been released intentionally by an intruder on her property.

"When I left I made triple sure that they were all in their separate areas. I believe the dogs were actually let off because I have had prior incidences ..."

"It's not just an occurrence of the dogs magically releasing themselves off the property and intentionally going and harming animals. There are other hunting dogs in this area," she said.

Tararua District Council manager of regulatory services Craig Lunn confirmed animal control officers were investigating a dog attack on Huia Rd and that a dog was impounded at the scene.

Giles agreed to have the dog destroyed and it was put down on Monday night.

"I'm devastated because she was actually a really good dog the majority of the time."

She also said she paid $500 to the council to have the puppies returned.

Harding said the German shepherd had a history of killing other animals. Giles admitted the dog had killed chickens in the past.

Harding said she had been told by dog control officers that they had found wool and gristle in the dogs' mouths.