AT THE end of a month which saw two separate attacks on sheep near Inveraray, rural insurer NFU Mutual is calling for owners to keep their pets under control over Easter.
The average cost of claims for farm animals killed or injured by dogs dealt with by NFU Mutual now more than doubles during the first three months of the year. Scotland was one of the worst affected parts of the UK with an estimated cost to farming of £330,000 in 2017.
New research by the insurer has revealed that more than 80 per cent of dog owners exercise their pets in the countryside, with more than 60 per cent letting them roam off the lead.