Farmer sickened by gruesome sheep attack

A sheep farmer is pleading with dog owners to act responsibly after discovering a gruesome attack on her flock.

One sheep was mauled to death and two others suffered serious injuries after a dog attacked them at Northlees Farm in Perth, Scotland.

Devastated owner Hannah Pedgrift discovered the sickening attack when she went to check her flock on Thursday, 14 May.

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A neighbour alerted her after suspecting some of the sheep had been injured when possibly trapping their necks in wire fencing.

However, when Ms Pedgrift arrived at the field she quickly realised what had happened.

“My dad had been down checking the flock at about 3pm that afternoon and they were all fine,” she said.

“I got there after 7pm and went around the flock. One sheep had blood all down the right hand side of her neck. Her right ear was hanging off and she had a big hole under her neck.

“Another sheep was dead. I picked her up and found her face and her ear had been mauled and ripped off.

“I left her and went back up and checked the rest of the flock. I found another walking around with serious injuries to her face.”

A vet was called to treat the two surviving sheep for their injuries. They were stapled up and placed on antibiotics. Both appear to be recovering well from their ordeal.

Ms Pedgrift said 33 sheep had been killed on the farm over the past 18 years. However, she described the latest attack as “the worst we have ever suffered”.

She suspects that a dog got into the field to attack the sheep from a public footpath that straddles the farm.

Ms Pedgrift urged dog owners to act more responsibly.

“Just respect the rules and keep your dogs on the lead,” she said. “We’re fed up with this happening. It is sickening.

“If your dogs do attack sheep, then at least have the conscience to come forward.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police Scotland is investigating an incident that took place at Northlees Farm, Kinfauns, Perthshire, on 14 May 2015, whereby two sheep were found badly injured and one sheep had died.

“The injuries are suspected to have been caused by another animal, possibly a dog or dogs. 

“We would like to remind dog owners of their responsibilities and ensure they know where their dogs are at all times and that they are kept under control.

“Please consider keeping dogs on leads especially in areas near livestock.”

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to to contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.