EARLIER THIS year, Argyll sheep farmer Brian Walker experienced one of the most horrific cases of sheep worrying in Scotland to date, when 17 of his ewes were attacked during the night by dogs.

Four were found dead at the scene on his Carloonan Farm on March 4, and seven were so badly maimed that they had to be put down immediately.

This month, at a specially convened event in Inveraray, Mr Walker met with his local MSP Michael Russell and South of Scotland MSP, Emma Harper, along with representatives from NFU Scotland, Police Scotland, NSA Scotland, Scottish SPCA and Lochgilphead’s Dalriada veterinary surgery, for a roundtable discussion on livestock attacks in general.

This meeting was a chance for Mr Walker to share his experiences, along side those of the local dog warden and the Police Scotland officials who were involved in his case, with Ms Harper, ahead of the forthcoming launch of an online public consultation relating to dogs attacking livestock.

Following the meeting, Ms Harper commented: "It was important to meet with Mr Walker and to listen to his account of this horrific attack first hand, on the farm where it happened.”

According to figures revealed this year by NFU Mutual, the number of dog attacks on sheep has risen by 67% in two years, with such incidents costing Scottish farmers £330,000 in 2017 alone.

Ms Harper continued: "The farmer in this case has been left out of pocket by £4000, which doesn't include the future money the offspring and future generations of the now deceased ewes would have raised for the farm. The 11 sheep which died as a result of this attack, as well as the six who survived, would have gone through an unimaginable amount of trauma and suffering during this prolonged attack,” she stressed.

"I would encourage farmers from across Scotland to email or phone my office with their stories or experiences of dogs attacking livestock and their views on what new legislation should look like," she urged.

Earlier this year, Ms Harper announced in the Scottish Parliament that she would be bringing forward proposals for a Members' Bill to toughen the law in the area of livestock being attacked by dogs.

As the local MSP for Argyll and Bute, Mr Russell was horrified by what had happened on his constituent’s farm: “Sheep worrying is still too prevalent and needs to be not just taken very seriously but more vigorously prosecuted. I am glad to see Emma here today as she develops her Bill and I look forward to seeing what final proposals she makes. It is at that moment that the Scottish Government will be able to take a view about what happens next,” he explained.

Mr Walker added: "I feel there is now momentum for there to be a changing of the law to tackle livestock worrying, and because the last significant law in this area – the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 – was passed 65 years ago, this feels like a 'once in a lifetime' moment to get this legislation right, and I and other farmers will support Emma Harper MSP in doing that.

"The farming community is small in terms of the overall population so I'm grateful that there are MSPs who are willing to take notice of what issues affect those working in the rural economy,” he concluded.