Lambing season warning to dog owners Pet could be killed to save sheep
Strath dog owners have been warned their animal could be killed if it is found to be in the presence of sheep – even if it has not attacked or chased them.
The stark point was made at the start of a campaign launched this week by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime to spell out the devastating effects of livestock worrying.
The campaign seeks to highlight to dog owners who live in the countryside or walk their dogs there that they must act responsibly and keep their animals under close control.
Results from a similar campaign last year showed two-thirds of all reported livestock worrying cases involved a dog which was either local to the area, was allowed to roam free or had escaped from a house or garden.
Recent attacks on sheep in the local area have had devastating consequences, with pregnant ewes being maimed and even killed.
Such attacks have a financial and emotional impact on the farmer and cause immense suffering to livestock and are avoidable if dog owners follow some simple steps.
Inspector Jane Donaldson from Police Scotland said: “The worrying of livestock can have devastating consequences for farm animals and has an obvious financial and emotional impact on farmers and their businesses.
“This campaign is being launched to coincide with the spring lambing period because this is when sheep are at greatest risk.
“The vast majority of livestock worrying incidents involve sheep and can occur when a dog attacks, chases or, in the case of sheep, is at large – not on a lead or otherwise under close control – in a field where livestock is kept.
“The devastating effects of a dog attack are evident and cannot be overstated but significant damage can also be caused by a dog simply being present in a field.
“Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs or lambs can be separated from their mothers, causing distress and in some cases malnutrition.
“The advice to dog owners who live in rural areas or anyone walking and exercising their dogs in the countryside is to ensure they are under control at all times and avoid going into fields where livestock is grazing.
“The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says dogs shouldn’t be taken into fields where there are lambs or other young farm animals.”
Inspector Donaldson added : “We are encouraging farmers and landowners to engage with dog walkers and to put signs up on gateways and on key roads and paths, alerting them to the presence of sheep and lambs in their fields.”
She urged farmers and those who use the countryside to report all incidents of livestock worrying to police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Councils can also serve dog control notices on owners who do not keep their pets under proper control.
Police say they will be enforcing the law robustly, ensuring all reported cases of sheep worrying are thoroughly investigated and offenders reported to the procurator fiscal.
The campaign is being run in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates and the Kennel Club.