The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Farm bans dog walkers after 69 ducks left dead
An Elgin farm has said dog walkers are no longer welcome on their land after dozens of ducks were killed in a vicious dog attack.
Owners of Allarburn Farm Shop were wakened by the sound of barking yesterday morning before discovering 69 ducks had been slaughtered by two dogs.
A further 30 ducks were left injured following the attack on the firm’s Mayne Farm. The ducks were only three months old.
It is understood the dogs continued their attack on the farm’s livestock by making their way into a field full of sheep.
It is not known at this time if any were killed.
Dean Anderson and his daughter Hilary, owners of the Edgar Road shop, have taken to social media to speak of their devastation.
The pair shared a series of images highlighting the scale of the destruction and the injuries inflicted upon the ducks that survived.
The incident has been reported to the police.
Police have been contacted to comment.
In their post, they said they have “had enough” and are instructing all dog walkers to stay away.
They wrote: “69 killed and 30 injured. Early this morning two dogs killed 69 ducks and left 30 injured before entering the field of sheep and attacking them.
“The barking woke everyone and these dogs can be identified but not yet found.
“Do not walk your dogs at the farm – we have had enough.”
The owners say replacing these birds will be difficult as their existing flock was hard to find.
They added: “There will be no more Allarburn duck eggs. There will be no more dog walkers welcome.
“We are devastated – this was a prolonged attack on these defenceless animals.
“The police are involved,” they added.
It is not the first time the pair have had run-ins with dog walkers in Elgin.
Last week, the owners were forced to ask a man to put his dogs on a lead; however, their request was ignored.
They say there will be “zero tolerance” of such behaviour in future.