Woman fined for dog worrying sheep

A WHALSAY woman who allowed a Norwegian elkhound to run through a field of 15 sheep near her home was fined £200 at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Christine Polson, aged 43, of Woodstock, Isbister, admitted allowing the young bitch to worry sheep in a field at Grunnataing.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that elkhounds are bred to run and bark, but not to attack. However he said their behaviour had caused “trepidation” amongst people walking past the woman’s house.

Mr Mackenzie said that she had already been spoken to by the police about keeping her dogs within the confines of her garden, but accepted that the dogs were not as dangerous as people thought.

The fiscal said: “There may well be a basis for her contention that their trepidation is without any basis. She clearly looks after her dogs well and she responded in the correct way when this matter was brought to her attention.”

He added: “The dogs might well be trained to run and bark and not to attack but the sheep don’t know that and it’s well known the damage that can be done to sheep simply through fear.”