Police Scotland confirmed the incident at Blairadam Farm happened at some point between 10:30 and 13:30 on Monday 3rd of April.

Stuart McDougall said the incident has been a “major blow” for his family and described a scene of “wanton destruction” at the farm in Kelty, Fife, where he looks after a flock of 130 black-faced ewes.

Mr McDougall said he was only away from the flock for 2.5 hours and on returning he found six of the lambs were already dead. A vet had been required to put a further 10 ewes down leaving four more injured.

Sheep worrying is a serious issue that costs farmers a lot of money each year. When a dog attacks or chases after sheep, they become stressed and can suffer injuries or even death. This can lead to a decrease in the quality and quantity of wool and meat produced by the sheep, which ultimately affects the farmer’s income. In addition, farmers may need to spend money on veterinary bills or additional fencing to prevent future attacks. These costs can quickly add up and put a strain on the finances of the farmer. It’s important for dog owners to take responsibility for their pets and ensure they are properly trained and supervised to avoid such incidents.

This attack is expected to cost Blairadam farm in the region of £7,000 but it’s not only the finantial cost as Mr McDougall was quoted as saying “The monetary impact is one thing. But the years of dedication that I’ve put into my small flock … it’s catastrophic.”

He added: “It’s hard to put into words the emotional toll this has taken on my family, especially my two young children.”

Image from Natioanl Sheep Association sheep worrying by dogs survey 2023

The National Sheep Association has reported that in 67% of cases of sheep worrying a single dog was responsible. There is a real concern among sheep farmers who are actively trying to reduce the risk of an attack by displaying signs, moving sheep to areas with less public access and working with communities via
social media but unfortunately these actions are having little impact in reducing the number of sheep worrying incidents.

Police Scotland recorded 301 incidents of livestock attacks by dogs in 2021 and recent figures suggest numbers for 2022 were around 262.

It is important we all take responibility for ensuring our pets are kept under control at all times when passing livestock. We are extremely luck in Scotland with our freedom to walk and our right to roam. Dog owners found guilty of allowing their pet to attack or worry livestock could face a fine up to £40,000 and the possibility of a custodial sentance.