A SHEEP has been mauled to death while others had their tails ripped off and legs snapped by two dogs at a Kilbarchan farm.

Farmer Archie Paterson’s sheep were grazing on Crossflat farm when the incident occurred.

A total of five sheep were affected by the incident which saw one killed and another suffer from a broken leg.

Three had their tails chewed by the unattended dogs and another sheep had its tail completely torn off.

Archie said: “I was working up the hill and one of the other farmers phoned me and said there had been dogs among my sheep.

“By the time I got down the police were already there.

“We started rounding them up to see if there was any more damage but thankfully most of them were still upright.

“It was difficult seeing the sheep after the attack especially the ones with their tails chewed off.”

The 59-year-old farmer specialises in female cheviot sheep at Hardrige farm, Kilmacolm, which are usually kept for five years to breed lambs.

Archie, who has been a farmer for 44 years, estimates that a lamb is usually worth around £50 each however the cost for damaging his sheep has yet to be confirmed.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, owners are liable to a criminal conviction and a fine of up to £1000 and the possibility of the dog causing the worrying being destroyed.

Although the dogs were not put to sleep under Archie’s request, he is wary of the dogs repeating the same offence again. He said: “At the time when I was looking at my sheep, initially I did think that the dogs should have been put down.

“If they got out again there’s a 99 per cent chance they would just do it again as they now have a taste for blood.

“If something else happened again I think the circumstances may be different.”

According to witnesses, the unattended dogs were seen running into the field, chasing and attacking the sheep.

The dogs escaped their owner last Tuesday afternoon. One of the dogs was caught and the address of its owner was found on its collar.

Archie said: “The two dogs looked like cross breed white terriers and it seems that they ran away from her.

“Personally I think owners should keep their dogs as far away from sheep and fields as possible.

“One of them started chasing the sheep and the other joined in thinking they were playing but then things just got worse from there.”

The animal’s death comes soon after Police Scotland launched a campaign with the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

As well as educating owners of the consequences, the message stresses the importance of keeping dogs on a tight leash when they are in the countryside.

Chief Inspector Simon Wright said: “I would remind dog owners that they are ultimately responsible for the actions of their dogs.”

Police said a woman is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in relation to the incident and is expected to appear in court at a later date.