DOG owners are being encouraged to act responsibly when walking through the countryside during the lambing season.

This comes after the start of a campaign launched this month by Police Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, NFUS, The National Sheep Association and the Kennel Club, to raise awareness amongst dog owners about the “devastating effects” of worrying livestock.

The campaign, which runs until May, seeks to highlight to dog owners who live in or walk their dogs in the countryside, that they must “act responsibly” and keep their dogs “under close control”.

Ayr Advertiser:

Livestock worrying crimes reduced last year, from 179 in 2016 to 130 in 2017, and the vast majority of these crimes were dog attacks on sheep which rose over the spring months, according to Inspector Jane Donaldson, Police Scotland’s Rural Crime Co-ordinator.

She said: “Livestock worrying can occur when a dog attacks, chases or in the case of sheep, is at large in a field where livestock is kept.

"The effects of a dog attacking sheep are evident and cannot be overstated but significant damage can also be caused by a dog simply being present in a field.

“Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs or lambs can be separated from their mothers, causing distress and in some cases malnutrition.

"Our advice to dog owners who live in rural areas or anyone walking and exercising their dogs in the countryside is to ensure that they are under control at all times and avoid going into fields where livestock is grazing.”

For more information and tips on walking dogs near farmland, visit www.outdooraccess-scotland.com.