Despite installing hundreds of metres of double fences to protect her livestock, Banffshire farmer Pauline Mitchell is still regularly having sheep killed and injured by out-of-control dogs.

A young, in-lamb Texel-cross ewe was the latest victim, found dead by a field gate with its throat ripped out less than two hours after Pauline had last checked the flock.

“All the sheep were crowded in a huddle in a corner of the field, so it was obvious they had been chased by a dog,” she said.

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“It’s a continual problem – we’re in a spot that is very popular with walkers, and many let their dogs roam free despite us having livestock in the fields.

“We’ve put in double fencing and grown thick hedges to separate our livestock from walkers and we’ve put in hard-core trails in the most popular locations.

“However, people still encourage their dogs to get into the fields to run around while they walk on the fenced paths. It’s very frustrating. They can’t seem to grasp that all dogs have an instinct to attack grazing animals and even chasing them can cause serious injuries.”

The worst attack was 15 years ago when two spaniels rampaged through the grazing fields killing 28 sheep. As well as causing a series of sheep deaths and injuries, dogs have also worried Pauline’s cattle, chasing them around fields until they smashed down fences to escape. “With the help of The Crown Estate, footpaths and fencing have been installed over the years for the safety of walkers and to separate them from the livestock,” she added.

“We’ve also grown thick hedges along many walks and installed gates to protect sheep where possible.”

Part of a family who have farmed in the Scottish Highlands for generations, she farms in partnership with her father, Charles Irvine. They currently have 400 Texel-cross ewes and 100 suckler cows on a holding of 1400 acres, including 700 acres of upland grazing.

With many dog owners planning to visit the countryside at a time when sheep and lambs are at their most vulnerable, NFU Mutual is calling for them to:

• Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle

• Be aware that all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, can cause distress, injury, and death of farm animals

• Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers

• Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs that escape and attack sheep grazing nearby