Police are investigating two separate incidents of sheep worrying at a farm near Huntly, which has resulted in the death of six animals.
The attacks occurred separately on Sunday, March 5 in a field near Bridge of Mannoch in Aberdeenshire during a twelve-hour period.
Angus Greenlaw, of Park Farm saw the dog he thinks is responsible in the area on that particular day and said: “It is just one dog that I have seen in the fields.
“The postwoman said she had seen it the day before chasing the sheep – it was in the field and the owners were trying to get it back.
“The police have given me permission to shoot it if it comes back – but I feel it should be removed rather than wait for it to come back.”
The National Sheep Association has outlined the legal position for farmers who face attacks and recommends that farmers only shoot dogs as a last resort – if the sheep are believed to be in danger.
John Fyall, chair of the National Sheep Association said: “It is a problem we have year on year – the last thing a farmer wants to do is to shoot any animal. But any dog is capable of attacking livestock, not just sheep and lambs.”
Police Sergeant Ronnie Kain added: “Two incidents of sheep worrying at a farm in the Bridge of Marnoch area have been reported to police and enquiries are being carried out.
“The first happened at around 8am on Sunday, 5 March, where one sheep was discovered dead and a second so severely injured it had to be euthanised.
“At around 8.40pm on the same day at the same farm, a further three sheep were found dead.
“The worrying of livestock has devastating consequences for farm animals and has an obvious financial and emotional impact on farmers and their businesses.”
Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence.
The act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, “chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, or abortion” or being “at large” where there is livestock.