Dog attacks on sheep mounted up to 67 per cent in the last two years. Farmers in Scotland have spoken that dog attacks on sheep are becoming a major problem. Despite public campaign awareness such as the #FGtakethelead, livestock and sheep worrying still has an impact on farmers predominantly across the UK.
- Scottish farmers lost £330,000 from sheep worrying last year.
- Derbyshire Constabulary cited 149 dog attacks on sheep with 116 sheep killed and 45 left injured.
- South Wales Police has a record of 106 sheep-worrying incidents.
- North Wales (2013–17) set a record of 648 livestock animals that were killed by dogs.
- Also in North Wales, there are 52 dogs shot for the past four years.
- Cumbria (2015–17) has 224 incidents recorded.
- In Scotland (2017), there are 130 cases of sheep worrying reported.
- 7 per cent of dog owners admitted in letting their pets chase farm animals.
- Another 60 per cent have pets that are free to roam off the lead in the rural areas.
Sheep worrying
The definition of ‘worrying’ includes attacking and endangering livestock such as sheep and lambs. As we all know, sheep are vital assets in the farming industry, and any harm done to them has an emotional and financial impact on farmers.
Sheep worrying can leave serious damage. ‘Sheep are very sensitive animals and the presence of a dog can cause stress to the animals resulting in their death,’ a force spokesman mentioned.
Even if the dog is not able to catch the sheep, it still inflicts harm to the sheep through their panicked attempts to escape. Dogs chasing pregnant ewes can result in miscarriage. Moreover, when ewes get separated with their lambs causes mis-mothering issues. Such cases cause a disturbance in the normal farming routine.
‘ . . . that’s a big part of a farmer’s life ruined,’ shared Robbie Welsh, a farmer near Dalrymple, Ayrshire, in an interview with Emma Harper. ‘It’s stressful for the sheep; it doesn’t know where it is going and what’s happening.’
Scotland laws in dog shooting
In Scotland, farmers were given legal sanction to shoot a dog that is attacking sheep, and the court can order an owner to destroy the animal.
Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) has set the responsibilities of dog owners staying in the countryside.
- Do not take your dog into a field with lambs. When there are lambs and sheep during walks, keep the lead short in about two metres long or shorter and steer them away from the flock.
- The SOAC follows the ‘under close control’ protocol where the dogs should be close and responsive at your commands during the encounter with the livestock animals as well as staying distant.
- The SOAC reminds dog owners of the farmer’s rights to shoot a dog when it is attacking or endangering their livestock.
According to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, when a dog worries livestock on farming areas, the dog owner will be considered guilty of an offence.
Action points for farmers
The National Sheep Association (NSA) encourages farmers to report incidents of dogs worrying livestock. This is to provide evidence of sheep worrying that will prompt the police and the law courts into better and quicker action. The following are action points for farmers made by NSA:
- Continue providing public awareness of the importance of responsible dog ownership in the countryside. This is done through posters, word of mouth, and the like.
- Report every case of livestock worrying to the police in full detail as possible.
- Reach a wider audience by using the social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, to send a message of keeping dogs on leads around livestock.
Social media campaign
Photo Credit: Farmers Guardian
The #FGTakeTheLead was initiated by the Farmers Guardian and is supported by the National Sheep Association (NSA) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA). This campaign aims to send the message to a wider public especially to the non-farming audience. For the past years, it has made a voice in the social media using its hashtag.
Tim White, a Wiltshire sheep farmer, uses social media particularly on Facebook to inform the local community on which areas dog owners should watch out for. He said that word-of-mouth method of informing people was not getting anywhere. ‘But it all changed after I started putting up large home-made signs on gates and telling people on Facebook where the sheep are kept,’ he added. With that, he thanks dog walkers on Facebook for acting responsibly.
An example of his Facebook post says:
‘Please note there are sheep on Martinsel Hill. Please keep your dogs on leads. Many thanks for your cooperation.’
Do you want to get involved with the social media campaign? Use #sheepworrying, #FGTakeTheLead, and #ruralcrime.
You might like to read:
- 4 Dog Lead Types: When and How to Use Them
- 4 Dog Leash Training Tricks to Stop Your Dog from Pulling on Leads
- What Does Dog Barking Noises Tell Us?
- Dog Aggression: Practical Training Tips
