A POLICE investigation is continuing after one reindeer has been killed and another injured after poachers smashed into a farm in Hampshire.

The owners of Emma's Farm in Swanmore, which take animals to schools and nursery events to meet children, say the poachers were trying to escape police when they drove a 4x4 through its gates last night.

The incident happened at about 11.30pm at the farm on Brickyard Road and owner Emma Thompson said the men in the vehicle fled, leaving the dogs behind.

The poachers' dogs then attacked and killed one of their reindeer, called Comet, before injuring another animal, called Candy.

Comet, who was discovered by police when they arrived on the scene, was two years old and had only been on the farm for a year.

Emma, 39, said she protected Candy by pushing away one of the dogs as it grabbed Candy around the neck with its jaws.

She said that the animal cannot walk due to its injuries, saying: "When the dog started running at us my first instinct was to protect Candy and I tried to get the dog away.
"She had Candy by the throat and I had to push it away to push it off her.

"If she had bolted she would surely have died.

"When I saw Comet I felt very angry. At first I was just a bit taken aback and my husband wouldn't let me see him.

"I called him and he didn't come to me and I knew that if he was alright he would have come to me as he was a very friendly animal.

"I am currently running on adrenaline, I am still very shocked at what happened."

They say a rabbit was also killed and the dogs were left within the boundaries of the farm while the poachers left their vehicle in nearby fields.

The farm has had to cancel a wedding it was providing today with the bride set to travel in a reindeer-drawn sleigh.

Emma said she believes there were three men and five lurcher-type dogs in the farm, and the dogs have now been collected by the police alongside the Jeep that was left in the field.

The incident has led to an outpouring of support for Emma and the farm on social media, with several people offering help.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "I can confirm that police are investigating criminal damage on farm land in Brickyard Road near Winchester, sometime between 11.30pm and 12.30am.

"Police have seized five dogs that were found loose on the land. We are aware that a reindeer and a rabbit were killed and another reindeer was injured.

"No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information should contact the force on 101, quoting reference 44150422868."