Fatal dog attack on sheep left field ‘covered in blood’

PERTHSHIRE: Farmer fears bill may run to thousands of pounds

One of Scotland’s top sheep breeders was left reeling in horror after discovering his awardwinning flock of pedigree sheep had been savaged.

Farmer Tom Paterson fears he has lost thousands of pounds and his livestock suffered as yet unquantified damage as a result of the dog attack.

Snow-covered fields at Dunruchan near Muthill in Perthshire were “covered in blood” and his prized flock scattered in the wake of the attack.

It is the latest in a spate of incidents across the region that have cost traumatised farmers tens of thousands of pounds.

The police have set rural crime officers on the hunt for the dog and its irresponsible owner.

Years of hard work on Tom Paterson’s farm in Perthshire were torn apart this week as an out of control dog savaged his flock of pedigree ewes.

The farmer and family have been raising some of Scotland’s best blackfaced sheep at Dunruchan near Muthill but found themselves at the mercy of an irresponsible pet owner.

The dog killed one ewe and badly injured several others, sharp teeth tearing into hind legs with terrible ferocity.

Many were left lame, including one that secured first prize and the Gimmer and Lanark Type Blackie Reserve Champion title at last year’s Perth Show.

It came at one of the most sensitive times of the year for breeders, with much of the flock heavily pregnant.

With Mr Paterson and his wife Mairi away for a few hours following morning feeding, the farmer revealed it was his son Robert who made the terrible discovery.

The family believe the attack may have cost them thousands of pounds but the full impact may not be known until lambing begins.

It is the latest in a series of sheep worrying incidents to hit farmers across Perth and Kinross and led Mr Paterson – who will judge the Champion of Champions prize at this year’s Perth Show – to speak out.

He said: “We had driven the flock into the field to get them ready for the shows.

“The ewes had been fed that morning and my son came up to the field in the afternoon to check on them.

“It was the day of the snow and he found the field covered in blood with the sheep scattered to all four corners.

“The dog itself was long gone but it had clearly got in among them and made a real mess. It left one dead and attacked a lot of hind legs.

“Some of the ewes will never walk right again and many are heavily with lamb.

“We won’t know the full extent of the damage until they have pregnancy scans in a fortnight or so and maybe not even then.”

The farmer said it is difficult to put a monetary figure on the attack, but estimates it could be in the thousands.

“One of the ewes attacked and injured was bought for £2,300 and the show ewe will be worth even more,” he said.

“It is difficult to do much to protect your livestock. The whole thing comes down to luck.

“It is just people being careless with their dogs. People are, of course, entitled to walk their dogs in rural areas. I have no problem with that. But they must look after them.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. Tom Paterson’s son, Robert, who found the savaged sheep after the attack at Dunruchan near Muthill.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Tom, Mairi and Robert Paterson in the field where their sheep were attacked.

The attack took place at Dunruchan, which is near Muthill.