Thousands of pounds have been raised to help a pack of dogs that were taken into care following a fatal sheep attack in Dumfries and Galloway.

A farmer was forced to shoot four dogs dead after a sheep was killed and another attacked during an incident near Moffat on Sunday.

A further six dogs were rounded up and are now in the care of Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre.

They have since been named Toffee, Brodie, Glen, Rae, Charlotte and Meadow.

Police Scotland said officers received a report of a number of dogs roaming around the area unaccompanied. Enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

Rescuer Lee Herron, of Lost Dogs Dumfries and Galloway, said the surviving animals were found “exhausted, dehydrated and starving” and believes “they’ve probably spent their lives locked up”.

Ms Herron praised the community effort to round the dogs up and said people from across the UK have been donating to a fundraiser to help their recovery, with £2,000 raised so far.

She told Sky News: “Everyone has been so generous. The kindness shown to these six dogs now is so heart-warming.

“It’s been a horrible situation for them all and so traumatic. If only they knew how much love is being shown to them now through the kindness of strangers.

“From the moment we all became aware of their plight, it’s been a whole community effort to get them safe and looked after.”

Read more:
‘Harrowing’ dog attacks on sheep costing farmers millions
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The dogs are said to be “slowly coming out of their shell” but could be at the rescue centre for some time before they are ready for rehoming.

Ms Herron praised the police and all those in the community who have shown support.

She added: “[The dogs] now need time to decompress, get over what they’ve been through and start to settle.

“They deserve to have everything they need after what they’ve been through, and thanks to the donations hopefully we can make sure that happens.”

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