A cow had to be euthanised due to very serious injuries inflicted by a dog in Barra.
The cow was grazing on a a croft in Eoligarry in the north of the island when the incident occurred between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning last week.
Police Scotland are investigating and are appealing for anyone with information about the crime.
A police spokesperson said: “Due to the severity of the injury inflicted by the dog on the cow, the cow had to be put down.”
Any witnesses should contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting CR/0353876/24 or speak with their local community officer or anonymously via Crimestoppers 0800555111.
Advice to dog owners visiting Barra and other parts of the Highlands and Islands is to ensure their dog under full and proper control when in an area where livestock are nearby. This includes all crofts and machair grazing.
The police spokesperson said: “If dog owners cannot maintain full and proper control over their dog, then the dog should absolutely be kept on a lead when livestock are nearby.
“Dog attacks on livestock have a real impact on the island crofting communities and can be easily avoided by dog owners taking simple measures to prevent crofter’s livestock being worried, chased or attacked.”
Any dog owner convicted under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 could be fined up to £40,000 or imprisoned for up to one year.
Police Scotland said it is committed to investigating any reports of this rural crime vigorously.
Injured cow put down after savage dog attack in Barra
26 September 2024
