Attack on Archie’s flock leads to calls for action

Calls for new public awareness campaign

The dog attack on 14-year-old Perthshire farmer Archie Downie’s sheep has led to calls for increased protection for the farming community.

Tens of thousands of pounds worth of animals have been lost to livestock worrying across Scotland over the past 12 months.

Three dogs have been shot by farmers in the past month alone in a controversial response to animals found preying upon livestock.

The escalating problem has led to calls for a new public awareness campaign, which Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith believes is needed to get through to irresponsible pet owners.

In the latest in a series of incidents in Perth and Kinross, Archie’s animals and those of a neighbouring shepherd were attacked.

Archie had saved for years to buy a small flock of sheep in the hope of setting himself on the path to a career as a farmer.

Two dog attacks in the space of 36 hours, however, left him with one badly injured animal and fearing for the young being carried by his ewes.

Jamie Smart from NFU Scotland said: “Many dog owners do not seem to make the connection between their family pet and an ability to cause huge damage to livestock such as sheep.”

He added: “We also remind the public that farmers have the right to shoot a dog they find worrying their livestock.”

Conservative MSP Liz Smith raised the issue of sheep worrying in parliament last month as she called on the Scottish Government to take tougher action.

She said: “The increasing number of sheep worrying incidents is hugely concerning and farmers need greater support in order to combat this.

“We need pet owners to be better educated and we need a public awareness campaign that makes your responsibilities clear when out walking your dog.

“The case of Archie Downie demonstrates how important this is.

“Here we have a youngster who wants to pursue a career in farming and has used his own pocket money to assemble a small flock only for it to be attacked by dogs causing possible long-term damage to them.”

Incidents of sheep worrying in Scotland were at their highest for more than a decade during 2016 and have continued as lambing season approaches.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was working hard, alongside its partners, to tackle rural crime.

“The Scottish Government fully supports the recently-launched campaign to raise awareness amongst dog owners on the devastating effects of livestock worrying,” he said.

“We also support Police Scotland in its commitment to enforce the law when dog owners fail to keep their dogs under control.”

Archie Downie, 14, saved up to buy his own small flock of sheep.