Police probe worrying rise in sheep attacks

Stiffer penalties wanted for irresponsible dog owners

A farmer has called for stiffer penalties for dog owners after he lost two ewes in lamb following a dog attack.

It is one of three incidents in the past four months at the Glenkiln Farm of Kenneth Bone in Lamlash which police on Arran are investigating amid a concerning rise in the number of sheep worrying incidents on the island.

In the attack on Saturday December 8, the two Cheviot ewes carrying lambs were left dead after being thrown about by a large dog. And last September Mr Bone lost two blackface cross Cheviot lambs in an attack.

Then just before Christmas Mr Bone found a dog, which had got out of a house on its own in a field with 120 sheep. The owner has since been charged.

With 300 attacks across Scotland last year, the three attacks at Glenkiln represent one per cent of the Scottish average.

Mr Bone said: ‘I’m just completely scunnered. Irresponsible dog owners have no idea the cost to farmers that attacks on their livestock can have. Even to call it sheep worrying gives the completely wrong impression of what these attacks represent.

‘The situation on Arran has got worse in the past year and something urgently needs done to help the situation which not only causes animals unnecessary stress but can cost farmers serious money.’

He is not alone: farmer

John Murchie also had a recent incident at Strathwhillan when a dog got into his field of sheep, forcing him to move them.

He said: ‘There is no doubt that sheep worrying incidents are on the increase. There are more and more dogs on the island and owners have to take responsibility that they know where they are at all times.’

Mr Bone is backing a private member’s bill by South Scotland MSP Emma Harper for legislation, including more punative fines for dog owners. He would also like to see compulsory insurance for dog owners so that farmers can be adequately compensated should they suffer a dog attack.

Mr Bone also appears on the annual Scottish Natural Heritage radio campaign which runs from March to May, urging owners to look after their dogs at lambing time.

Arran police sergeant Dougie Robertson said: ‘Regrettably, we have recently seen the consequences when owners fail to keep their dogs under proper control. Owners have a legal duty to keep their dogs under control not only when out and about but also ensuring they cannot stray from home.

‘Locally, we have and will continue to pursue and charge owners who fail in this obligation in an effort to protect livestock, the livelihood of farmers and, of course, the dogs themselves which are placed at risk when not under proper control.’

Meanwhile, Arran is taking part in a five-month multi-agency campaign to highlight the reality of livestock attacks and trauma by dogs which was recently launched by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).

SPARC is made up of partners from across the rural community, including Police Scotland, NFU Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, and NFU Mutual. This new campaign complements work being done by rural organisations to combat livestock worrying and the impact it can have on farmers and landowners.

Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, who chairs SPARC, said: ‘Tackling livestock attacks remains a priority for SPARC.

‘Further work requires to be done in highlighting not just the message about an owner or person responsible keeping a dog on a lead if there is livestock nearby, but a more general awareness message regarding responsible dog ownership, both in the home and when outside.

‘To that end, SPARC is launching this campaign with key messages of awareness raising, education and prevention.’

Welcoming the new initiative, Tim Price, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, added: ‘Our claims figures show that dog attacks on sheep and cattle in Scotland quadrupled in the past two years and are running at an all-time high.’