Three lambs and pregnant ewe killed in dog attack in Scotland
8th April 2024
Three lambs were found dead and a pregnant ewe had to be euthanised following a suspected dog attack in Stirling, Scotland.
The incident happened in the afternoon on Tuesday 2nd April on a farm in the Leny Feus area of Callander.
Police Scotland believe that the livestock were attacked by at least one dog.
Officers are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch. They are particularly keen to speak to three men who were in the area at the time with a black and white cocker spaniel.
Keep your dog on lead
Inspector Andy Bushell said: “We all love seeing the lambs in the countryside at this time of year, but unfortunately, attacks by dogs on livestock can have devastating and appalling results.
“Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021, owners can face prosecution if their pet attacks livestock, and we are urging everyone to keep their dogs on a lead or under close control at all times and don’t take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals.
“We are asking everyone to be considerate when out and about in our rural areas. If you are a dog owner then it is your responsibility to keep them under control.”
Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting the reference 1423 of 3rd April.
Livestock worrying issue on the rise
Dog owners have recently been warned to be extra careful while visiting sheep and lamb grazing areas.
The alert also coincided with the launch of the 2024 Sheep Worrying Awareness Week on Monday 25th March.
The warning comes as the estimated cost of livestock worrying in the UK soared by nearly 30% to £2.4 million last year.
At the same time, NFU Mutual’s survey of over 1,100 dog owners found more people were letting their dogs off leads in the countryside last year than in 2022, 68% and 64%, respectively.
Worryingly, less than half (49%) said their pet always comes back when called. Almost 8% admitted their dog chases livestock, but 46% believed their dog was not capable of causing the death or injury of farm animals.
READ MORE: Livestock worth £1.8m killed and injured by dogs in just one year
READ MORE: 45 sheep killed in ‘absolutely traumatic’ dog attack
Tips for dog owners
NFU Mutual’s tips for dog owners visiting the countryside this Easter:
- Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle
- Be aware that all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, can cause the distress, injury, and death of farm animals
- Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers
- Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs that escape and attack sheep grazing nearby.
Read more livestock news.
