Farmers have right to shoot, police chief warns dog owners
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FARMERS have every right to shoot dogs if they believe they pose a threat to their livestock.
That was the blunt warning from Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss given to irresponsible owners who allow their pets to roam the countryside off the leash.
The message comes after he revealed incidents of sheep worrying were on the rise in Caithness, with the total number of deaths of lambs in the area recorded at 16 so far this year.
The latest incident was at a farm on the outskirts of Thurso in the early hours of Wednesday morning when a loose dog is thought to have killed two lambs.
Its owner has been charged and a report sent to the procurator fiscal.
Ch Insp Reiss said the law gave farmers the right to protect their livestock and warned owners to accept the consequences if they did not take proper care of their pets.
"In plain English, farmers have the right to shoot your dog if they believe the lives of their herd of sheep or cattle are in danger," he said.
"This does not just apply to dogs actually physically attacking livestock, if sheep or cattle are pregnant a loose dog which chases them could force them to miscarriage and farmers would also be entitled to shoot. Most cases of loose dogs are a result of their owners not looking after them properly and they do not get enough exercise and run off because they are bored.
"The fault does not lie with the dog but with the owner and they can expect confiscation orders or fines if they are found responsible."
The number of incidents of worrying sheep has risen, but so far there have only been two which have involved livestock being killed.
The most notable happened last month when 14 lambs were killed at Banks Lodge, Watten.
Farmer John Swanson was heartbroken when he saw the number of slaughtered lambs, saying the attack cost his business £1500.
Landward Caithness councillor Willie Mackay is appalled cases of sheep worrying in the county are rising and endorsed the legislation that gives farmers the right to shoot dogs, if there is no alternative.
"I am horrified that this issue appears to be on the increase," he said.
"There was always an element of sheep worrying in the past, but the past few months has seen it grow on an unprecedented scale.
"Working in the farming industry myself, I know that it is becoming a growing concern in the county.
"People have every right to take their dogs into the countryside, but it is their responsibility to make sure that they are controlled safely and do not pose a risk to others.
"It looks like the situation is becoming worse and owners need to realise the importance of properly looking after their animals and the consequences if they don’t."
