OFFICERS from Fife and Tayside have been working with partner agencies to highlight the appalling damage that can be done to livestock by out of control dogs.

Recently six lambs were found dead on a farm near Kelty and another 10 were so severely injured they had to be put down.

Two further lambs died during the next few days and a pregnant ewe lost her two lambs through miscarriage.

So in total 20 lambs have been lost. Officers believe they were attacked by at least one dog and enquiries into this incident are ongoing.

Officers, along with Safer Communities personnel from Fife Council, the National Sheep Association, the Forestry Commission, PARC, the SSPCA and dog wardens from Perth and Kinross, gave out advice to the public at Blairadam Forest near Kelty on Wednesday this week.

Officers also carried out patrols in nearby woods as part of ongoing work to educate the public about this kind of crime.

Police Constable Ashley MacGregor said: “We all love seeing the lambs in the countryside at this time of year but unfortunately attacks by dogs on livestock can have devastating and appalling results.

“Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 owners can face prosecution if their pet attacks livestock and we are urging everyone to keep their dogs on a lead at all times and to make sure that they cannot escape into fields on their own.

“We are asking everyone to be considerate when out and about in our rural areas. If you are a dog owner then it is your responsibility to keep them under control. If anyone sees or has information on dogs attacking livestock then please call us on 101.”