An Elgin farm has said dog walkers are no longer welcome on their land after dozens of ducks were killed in a vicious dog attack.
Owners of Allarburn Farm Shop were woken up at around 4am on Monday to the sound of barking before discovering 69 ducks had been slaughtered by two dogs.
A further 30 ducks were left injured following the attack on the firm’s Mayne Farm. The ducks, which were being kept in a shed, were only three months old.
It is understood the dogs continued their attack on the farms livestock by making their way into a field full of sheep.
It is not known at this time if any were killed.
Dog barking woke residents during night
Dean Anderson and his daughter Hilary, owners of the Edgar Road shop, have taken to social media to speak of their devastation.
The pair shared a series of images highlighting the scale of the destruction and the injuries inflicted upon the ducks that survived.
Police say they have launched an investigation.
In their post, they said they have “had enough” and are instructing all dog walkers to stay away from their land.
They wrote: “69 killed and 30 injured. Early this morning two dogs killed 69 ducks and left 30 injured before entering the field of sheep and attacking them.
“The barking woke everyone and these dogs can be identified but not yet found.
“Do not walk your dogs at the farm – we have had enough.”
The owners say replacing these birds will be a difficult as their existing flock was hard to find.
‘No more Allarburn duck eggs’
They added: “There will be no more Allarburn duck eggs. There will be no more dog walkers welcome.
“We are devastated – this was a prolonged attack on these defenceless animals. The police are involved.”
It’s not the first time the pair have had run-ins with dog walkers in Elgin.
Last week, the owners were forced to ask a man to put his dogs on a lead, however, their plight was ignored.
They say there will be “zero tolerance” of such behaviour in future.
“Only last week I ask a man to put his two dogs on a lead while at the farm and he refused and didn’t even have a lead with him,” they said.
“We will have zero tolerance and the police will be called in the future.”
Police have now issued an appeal for information to aid them with their inquiries.
Sergeant Michael Irwine said: “Our inquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch.
“Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 2869 of September 12, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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