Eight dogs were shot in Fife between 2011-2015 while in the process of sheep worrying, Police Scotland confirmed at a rural crime conference in Perth.
Another dog was voluntarily put down by its owner, two dogs were re-homed and nine farmers were financially recompensed for losses during the same period.
However police sergeant David Hayes told the conference that the official statistics on dog control incidents didn’t come close to reflecting the seriousness of the problem.
“For 2015 we have reports of only five cases of sheep worrying,” he told an audience of farmers and industry professionals.
“I’m not buying it that in Fife there were only five cases last year when a dog was causing havoc. It’s hugely under reported and farmers need to make the police aware.”
He also recommended that farmers and landowners should consider shooting dogs only as a last resort.
“Think very carefully. It could cause enormous confrontation between the farmer and dog owner, especially when there are firearms involved. Your own personal safety is paramount and you probably don’t know the dog owner’s background or if they have weapons,” he said.
“Give careful consideration before you shoot a dog. Is it totally necessary? If other options are available explore them first. Gather evidence, photographs and video footage which could be crucial evidence for the police and keep a record of the aftermath. Pictures of dead sheep convey a powerful message and beat anything written down.”
NFU Scotland president, Allan Bowie told the conference that, as a youngster, he had witnessed a dog being shot.
“It left a strong impression on me,” he said. “It wasn’t good. No farmer likes to do that. And the problem is that the story can later get twisted. However farmers do need understanding from the public that they sometimes need to go to that length.”
Commenting later, Tayside’s police chief, Operations Superintendent Graeme Murdoch, said dealing with a dog control issue was a “judgement call”.
He said: “Farmers generally don’t want to shoot animals, but there are instances where they have no alternative or it is a repeat matter. However the legislation does allow farmers to shoot a dog if there is no other alternative.”
