A DOG which attacked and killed two sheep after breaking free in a Dumbarton field will not be destroyed, a court has ruled.

two sheep to death when he broke free in a field in Dumbarton has escaped the chop.

A farmer was left counting the cost when the crossbred Akita Rottweiler managed to throw off its muzzle, slip through a damaged fence and attack two show sheep, killing one of them instantly and leaving the other so badly injured and covered in blood it had to be humanely destroyed.

But at a hearing at the town’s sheriff court the dog’s owner was told that under current legislation the only punishment available was a fine and compensation.

The dog’s owner, Jacqueline Wintersgill, 51, of Garshake Road, Dumbarton appeared in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, where a sheriff was told that under the present Act he was only able to impose a fine and a compensation order and could not order the dog to be destroyed.

The horrific incident happened at 4.45pm on August 30, 2017, on agricultural land, at field near to Maryland farm on Garshake Road.

The court heard that Jacqueline Wintersgill, the dog’s owner, was walking her pet on nearby land.

Wintersgill was the owner of an Akita Rottweiler crossbreed dog, and had been walking the animal on nearby land.

Defence lawyer Scott Adair confirmed to the court that 51-year-old Wintersgill, also of Garshake Road, was pleading guilty to being the owner of a dog that had “worried” sheep while loose within the field, chasing the animals, attacking two of them and causing their death.

that the dog had “worried” sheep when it was let loose within the field, chasing them and attacking two of the sheep and causing their death.

Prosecutor Martina McGuigan said a witness had seen a number of show sheep running about in the field.

Through his binoculars the witness saw the aftermath of the horrifying attack and saw the dog with blood on it.

: “A number of show sheep were running in the field, which attracted the attention of a witness, as it was unusual to see them running about.

“He lifted his binoculars and saw a Rottweiler type dog chasing the sheep in the field. He made off on his quad bike towards the field and saw one sheep come towards him with its neck covered in blood.

“There was another sheep alongside with blood all over and not moving. The dog had blood on it too. He chased it away to the top of the hill. He was met by the owner who told him the dog had escaped. She apologised and told him she would contact the police.”

“She attended at Dumbarton Police Office where she advised what had happened. Police attended later at her home address.”

Ms McGuigan told the court the dog had thrown off its muzzle and entered the field through a gap in a “vandalised” fence.

The court was also told by the Fiscal Depute that the dog originally was muzzled but had thrown it of and had got into the field through a bit of fencing which had been “vandalised.”

She continued: “When she spoke to police Wintersgill was cautioned and charged and was visibly shaking. She made no reply.”

She told the sheriff that the farmer had estimated each of the show sheep killed to be valued at £500 each. There were no vet’s costs involved.

Mr Adair told the sheriff: “The fence was in a forest area, which was enclosed. As a result of this incident she was issued with a Dog Control Notice by the council, ordering that the dog must be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times.

“She is in employment and is able to pay a financial penalty and compensation. She doesn’t argue with the figure of £500 per sheep.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “You have no previous convictions, but because of this you have acquired yourself a criminal record. There are only two options open to me by the legislation and that is a fine and compensation.”

Wintersgill was fined £200, which was reduce4d from £300 because of her early plea. She was also ordered to pay the farmer £1,000 in compensation within two months.

One website describes the cross breed dogs of Akita and Rottweiler as having “very powerful bites”, while another said “ Akitas and Rotts are known to be aggressive and they’re big breeds... not a good combination.

“They can become high-strung, anxious, and sometimes anti-social to people and other animals.”