A farmer has issued a heartfelt appeal to dog owners to be more responsible after two separate sheep worrying incidents there in the space of a week.
Louise and Andrew Paterson farm at Woodend Farm, in Balfron, west Stirlingshire, and they say that on two separate occasions over the last week they have dealt with sheep being chased across fields by out of control dogs.
Louise, who also runs her own bake shop from the farm, said: “As farmers we love our animals and want to nurture them and keep them alive.
“At this time of year there are lots of pregnant sheep in the fields growing their babies and need peace and rest to grow healthy lambs.
“So please, please, keep your dogs on the lead at all times.”
Detailing the two recent incidents, Louise said that on both occasions, the dog owner risked the unborn lambs’ health but allowed their dogs to roam the field off-lead.
“Farmers work hard all year round and look forward to lambing time when healthy lambs are born, we don’t want to have lots of dead ones, horrendous for us as well as the sheep not being able to look after their newborn babies”, she added.
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“I have a lovely collie dog and thoroughly enjoy walks in and around Balfron but I have her on the lead at all times – please be considerate and do the same.”
Farm owners can legally shoot out of control dogs that are worrying or attacking their sheep. The Dogs (Protection of livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) act 2021 means owners of dogs attacking and worrying livestock can now be jailed for up to a year and face fines up to £40,000.
It’s just the latest in a string of sheep worrying incidents across the area in recent years.
In October last year, a sheep died in an apparent dog attack in Callander, Perthshire. The incident happened on Sunday, October 13, between the River Teith and Invertrossachs Road as what police described as a “husky-type dog” was seen chasing the sheep. The sheep was then chased in to the river and later died. The dog was untraced but police were keen to trace the owner.
Last May, two sheep were left with injuries following a suspected dog attack in Killearn, west Stirlingshire. The latest attack occurred on the same day that another sheep was injured following an attack in Doune, Perthshire. In the Doune attack, a sheep was found with injuries consistent with a suspected dog attack.
In May 2023, a dog was shot dead following a sheep-worrying incident in Alva, Clackmannanshire. Police were called to a farm in the village at around 6.15am and a police spokesperson confirmed that a dog was “shot and destroyed during the incident”.