Dog owners warned over sheep worrying
| Published date | 24 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Stirling Observer |
It remains unclear if the sheep were chased in the same incident, or in separate attacks.
Lambing season in Scotland usually take place between early March and late May, but in recent years there has been an apparent spike in the number of sheep worrying incidents during the busy time of year for farmers.
"A few weeks later, it was confirmed by one of the Animal Welfare team at Stirling Council, as they were found washed up in Stirling and were able to be identified by their ear tags", Heather said.
"We also had some lambs injured and one was killed last year by dogs.
"Every year we have sheep chased and disturbed and lambs injured and killed.
"We are never notified by the owners when this happens either, we always just find the poor things when we're out checking on them.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking and massively frustrating.
"I can't comprehend how anyone could see their dog injuring or disturbing sheep and just walk away leaving them to suffer."
Heather added: "This year alone, we have had multiple incidents of finding people with dogs off lead, running about fields of heavily pregnant sheep and very young lambs.
"Despite explaining to these adults - sometimes multiple times and over multiple years - the damage this often causes, many continue to disregard our pleas and break the law.
"So from now on, wherever possible, we will record any incidents that we can to use as evidence to pass on to the police.
"No matter how lovely your dog is, the sheep do not understand that.
"They are prey animals and all they see is a predator.
"This applies to any dog running or playing nearby them, including when walking the dog right through the flock.
"The dog being on a lead does not remove the distress to the sheep.
"Dogs don't have to be specifically attacking them to cause extreme distress and or death."
Heather says that she often sees sheep left with nasty injuries, suffered as they try to evade capture, as well as miscarriages and lost and dead lambs who have become separated from their...
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