A LOCAL MP has made a plea to dog owners to ensure they keep their animals on their lead when ever they may be on farm land.

MP for Crossgates, Hill of Beath and Moss-side, Douglas Chapman, has this week backed The Scottish Farmer’s #TakeALead campaign to encourage the public to keep their dog on a lead when walking near livestock.

In the last few months across Scotland, but particularly in Fife, there has been a rise in the number of sheep being attacked by dogs, leading to livestock being fatally wounded or having to be put down by a vet due to the severity of their injuries.

Indeed, just three weeks ago a Lochgelly farmer asked that dog owners keep their pooches on leads when in their field after a sheep had to be put down following an attack which saw the face of the animal severely injured.

The Scottish Farmer's campaign, which also aims to see tougher laws put in place for those caught worrying livestock, is backed by NFU Scotland and NSA (National Sheep Association).

The Dunfermline and West Fife MP said: “With a rise in the number of sheep worrying incidents taking place across the Kingdom I’m encouraging local people to be mindful when taking their dog for a walk in the countryside near livestock.

“As well as the financial consequences of livestock worrying to farmers, it is a very horrific ordeal for the sheep involved and so it also becomes a serious animal welfare issue.

"It is a criminal offence for a dog to attack or worry sheep and incidents will be treated seriously by Police Scotland.”