DOG owners have been urged to keep their dog on a lead after four sheep were viciously killed on a Lanarkshire farm.

Police are appealing for witnesses after five sheep were attacked by a dog on Gair Farm, Hyndshaw Road, Carluke, on January 14.

Four of the sheep did not survive.

Officers have described the nature of the attack as 'very distressing' for the animals.

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A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Farmers only check on sheep periodically. Therefore if a sheep is attacked, it may be injured, in pain and distressed for up to a day before a farmer can render assistance.

"Sheep are highly sensitive animals, and can die of shock at the sight of other animals being attacked.

"The lambing season is almost here. Sheep carrying young can abort at the sight of a sheep worrying incident, bringing on shock, killing both mother and lamb.

"Farmers care deeply about the welfare of their animals, and witnessing the aftermath of an incident is often as distressing as the loss of a domestic pet in similar circumstances. Indeed incidents have been recorded where sheep killed were in fact show animals, kept as pets and cared for as such."

Owners have been reminded that the control of the dog rests entirely with the owner at all times.

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A fine of £1000, or even a destruction of the dog, can be handed down from the courts.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and those with information are urged to call Police Scotland 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 in confidence, quoting incident number 3403 of the 18th January 2018.