Agriculture / Reminder about keeping dogs under control after two sheep injured in Yell
A CROFTER in Yell has spoken up for the importance of keeping dogs under control in areas with livestock after two of her sheep were injured at the weekend.
One sheep was left with a bitten nose and is being treated with antibiotics, but the other was missing an ear and had “devastating injuries” to the side of its face and has been put down.
Ellie Sinclair, who owns the sheep, said the police have been notified and that the dog owners have taken the situation seriously.
She described it as an “unfortunate incident” for both parties.
Sinclair said the dog had escaped from its owner’s house and got into the field with some of her sheep.
She was not notified at the time as it was not thought that the dog had touched the sheep.
But on Saturday morning she was advised that there was an injured animal in their field.
Sinclair said she wanted to share her experience to remind people of how much damage a dog can do to livestock.
“If your dog gets loose in a field of sheep, even if you don’t think they’ve made contact, please let the farmer know,” she said.
“Prey animals like sheep hide injuries and even if no contact has been made they can die of fright or pregnant ewes can abort their lambs.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report that a dog had attacked two sheep in the Yell area of Shetland around 7am on Saturday, 16 March, 2024.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
With lambing season approaching Shetland Islands Council also has advice for dog walkers.
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