Keep dogs on leash near sheep during lambing season

Lambing season is just round the corner and farmers have enough to worry about without dogs chasing, scaring and sometimes killing their sheep.

Jamie Smart (52) a member of the National Union of Farmers Scotland explained the consequences of sheep worrying.

He said: “They can suffer abortions, abandon their lambs and even die from the stress of being chased.”

The solution to the problem is simple, keep your dog on a leash until it is safe to let it off. By keeping your dog under control it stops a situation leading to the worst possible outcome.

He said: “A farmer does have the legal right to shoot a dog if it poses a threat to sheep on his property however this is always the last resort but it can happen.”

Jamie is trying to educate people to keep both sheep and dogs safe.