Woman ordered to pay £1000 compensation after dog savages two sheep

The sheep industry has called for the introduction of mandatory leads on dogs around livestock
The sheep industry has called for the introduction of mandatory leads on dogs around livestock

A woman has been ordered to pay £1000 in compensation after she lost control of her dog which subsequently savaged two sheep.

The two sheep, which were being bred for a show and valued at £500 each, were killed by Jaqueline Wintersgill's dog in August last year on a field near Dumbarton, Scotland.

She has now pleaded guilty in court, and will gain a criminal record.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court fined her £200, reduced from £300 for her guilty plea and ordered her to pay £1000 compensation to the farmer.

The case follows recent comments by a prominent MSP who said it is "staggering" and "nothing short of disgraceful" that there are almost daily occurrences of dogs attacking sheep across the UK.

Kate Forbes, a Highland MSP has publicly denounced such incidents, labelling them "wretched".

She has called for the introduction of mandatory leads on dogs around livestock.

The National Sheep Association has also called for more action to be taken to ensure responsible dog walking in the countryside.

As the days begin to get longer, NSA took to social media platforms to spread and increase awareness of the devastating problem.

A recent case of sheep worrying on a farm specialising for the care of people with mental health difficulties has highlighted the brutal nature of the crime.