A desperate appeal has been made to walkers and visitors to a popular Fife estate to keep their pets on leads following another dog attack on livestock.
The latest incident at Falkland Estate is understood to have happened on Tuesday evening, when a dog allowed to run freely attacked sheep on the farm.
One of the sheep was injured and is expected to recover but the incident has prompted renewed calls for walkers to take greater responsibility when roaming the 1,500 hectares of farm, forest and hills.
The sheep attack comes two months after similar warnings were issued in the wake of two sheep deaths at the hands of dogs in as many weeks back in June.
Lynne Irons, from the Falkland Estate Centre for Stewardship, said: “Sadly, with another dog attack on sheep yesterday evening it is important that visitors know that Falkland Estate is a working farm with livestock.
“We remind all dog walkers to keep dogs on leads – especially when passing livestock.
“We are caring for the injured sheep and are grateful that this one survived.
“Please help us to avoid any further instances by keeping dogs on leads and encouraging others to do the same by getting this message out to all Falkland Estate visitors.”
Staff tried to attend to the ailing sheep on Tuesday evening but were unable to reach it as it was “too traumatised”. Farmhands were able to treat it and aid its recovery on Wednesday.
The Courier also understands the Centre for Stewardship has been contacted by horse riders concerned about the same issue, with a number of people allowing their dogs to walk without any sort of control in recent months.
Farm manager Robin Nisbet said: “We ask everyone, dog walkers and non-dog walkers alike, to please take steps to ensure that dogs are kept under control on a leash when visiting the estate.
“This in turn helps everyone to feel safe and prevents the unnecessary and upsetting death of animals which have been reared and cared for at Falkland.”
