HELENSBURGH police are looking into a case of sheep worrying after a local farmer reported one of his livestock had been seriously injured in the area.
The incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, February 15, when the animal involved is thought to have been attacked by a dog.
Local dog owners are being reminded that it is an offence to allow your dog to worry sheep on agricultural land, and dogs should be kept on a lead or under proper control when on or near this land.
Dogs chasing or attacking sheep can cause death or serious injury or cause pregnant ewes to lose their lambs, and farmers have the right to shoot any dog found worrying sheep on agricultural land.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code includes four key points relating to dog owners and farm animals: never let your dog worry or attack farm animals; don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals; if you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or under close control and keep as far as possible from the animals; and if cattle react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go and take the shortest, safest route out of the field.
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