Police in Scotland have launched an appeal to find the owners of three dogs involved in a worrying incident which left six sheep dead.

Officers were called to the farm at Headlesscross Road, Lanarkshire, on December 11, where a total of 27 sheep were attacked.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “On December 11, 2019, 27 sheep were allegedly attacked in a field in Headlesscross Road, Shotts, by two brown and white terriers and a collie. One dog was shot to end the attack in which six sheep were killed. Witnesses are sought.”

Those with information are asked to call 101, quoting incident number ‘2451 of 11/12/19’.

Reforming Scottish dog legislation

In July, a parliamentary committee that scrutinised Scotland’s dog control laws, found the current legislation was not fit for purpose.

The Scottish Parliament’s Public Accounts and Post Legislative Scrutiny Committee took an overarching look at all legislation on dogs.

The committee found that:

  • The current dog control law is not fit for purpose and it called on the Scottish Government to undertake a comprehensive review of all dog control legislation as a matter of urgency.
  • Current law is complex and not fit for purpose and should be consolidated.
  • The lack of implementation of a dog control notice (DCN) database must be rectified.
  • Data on out of control dogs and dog attacks should be specifically linked to the number of DCNs that have been issued and the resources available to each local authority.

National Farmers’ Union Scotland has called for a full and comprehensive review of the legislation in light of the findings.