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Reward offered after pet sheep attacked twice

BBC Rachel Hall, a blonde-haired woman in a woolly hat and green top, kneels between two sheep in a hay-lined areaBBC
Rachel Hall's sheep have been attacked twice in the past fortnight

A woman from the Borders is offering a reward for information after her pet sheep were attacked twice in the space of a fortnight.

Rachel Hall, from Kelso, believes it was a dog that caused the injuries in the incidents on New Year's Day and 13 January.

The first attack resulted in one of the sheep being killed while a number of others were seriously injured.

Police have asked for any witnesses to the two sheep worrying incidents in a field next to the town's Rosebank Cemetery to get in touch.

The first attack, on 1 January, saw three sheep injured - one of them fatally.

In the second incident, which happened some time between 09:15 and 10:00 on Monday, one animal was left with several bite marks on its head and body.

Rachel Hall Two sheep one with obvious injuries to its head and eyesRachel Hall
Ms Hall posted videos on social media of the impact of the attacks

Ms Hall, who is a professional dog walker, has appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time of either incident to come forward and help identify if someone has let a dog loose.

She believes the fact that some of the sheep were hurt but not killed means a dog owner may have intervened.

"Our beautiful pet sheep who were lucky to survive the last dog attack have yet again been found in field attacked again and covered in dog bites," she said.

They had only just returned to the field after "spending time in to recover" after the last attack.

She asked anyone who saw anything to come forward and appealed to dog walkers to get in touch in order to rule themselves out.

She told BBC Scotland News: "It's devastating. I totally get that accidents happen and it's not the dogs fault, it's the owners fault – 100%."

"Any information that would lead us to the owner responsible would be great because I think now it's happened twice the dog is going to keep coming back."

Ms Hall said she would also offer a reward to anyone who could provide information helping to trace the culprits.

She has also posted videos of the aftermath on social media in an attempt to find out more about the attacks.

Police said owners of dogs which attack or worry livestock could be fined up to £40,000 or sent to prison for up to 12 months.

NFU Scotland said the loss or distress of any livestock due to a dog scare or attack was "unacceptable" and had a "devastating impact".

"While we want people to enjoy the countryside, it is a place of work for farmers," it said in a statement.

"Many ewes are at a critical stage of pregnancy at the moment, and we are urging any members of the public to use the countryside with respect."