Shocking increase in dog
attacks on livestock • Cost of livestock worrying jumps 67% • Horrendous suffering to animals • Dog owners admit pets chase livestock
big rise in the number of dog attacks on sheep has prompted renewed warn-
ings to watch out for livestock wor- rying this spring. The cost of dog attacks on live-
stock rose by 67% across the UK in the past two years, according to the latest figures from NFU Mu- tual. It estimates the total cost to the industry in 2017 at £1.6m, with the average cost of an insur- ance claim rising by over 50% to nearly £1,300. New research by the insur- er reveal that over 80% of dog owners exercise their pets in the countryside, with over 60% letting them roam off the lead. Some 7% of owners admitted that their pets had chased livestock in the past.
Police action
Costs due to sheep worrying have more than quadrupled in Scot- land and nearly doubled in the Midlands over the past two years. But dog attacks have also been reported to police in East Anglia during recent weeks. Police sergeant Brian Calver,
of Suffolk’s Rural Crime Team, said: “To avoid these situations arising, police would urge the public to take extra care when out and about and always ensure your dog is secured on a lead whenev- er you’re near livestock. “We would ask that dog own- ers to share this message with as many people as possible to get the message across. Police do take this type of offending seriously and we will investigate any offences that are reported to us.” Suffolk Police and Crime Com- missioner Tim Passmore said: “We need to protect the countryside
Livestock A
now and for future generations, so if you are out and about with your dog please make sure it is not a danger or nuisance to farm animals, horses, wildlife or oth- er people.” With many families expect- ed to visit the countryside dur- ing the forthcoming Easter holi- days, NFU Mutual has launched a campaign urging dog owners to keep their pets on a lead at all times, and for people to report out- of-control dogs to a local farmer or the police.
NFU Mutual rural risk spe-
cialist Tim Price said: “As the in- surer of nearly three-quarters of the UK’s farmers and many hobby farmers, we are sadly all too aware of the heartbreak and huge finan- cial loss that dog attacks cause. “For small farmers in particu-
Dog attacks on sheep are becoming more frequent – with devastating results
How to reduce risk of dog attacks
Reducing the risk of a dog attack on sheep or cattle is not easy for farmers, but NFU Mutual advises the following:
• Check stock regularly in case any have been attacked
• When possible keep sheep in fields away from footpaths
• Put up signs warning dog owners to keep their pets under control on your land
• Maintain fences, walls and hedges to make it more difficult for dogs to get into grazing fields
• Report any attacks to the police immediately
• Ask neighbours to alert you if they see attacks or loose dogs near your livestock
lar, livestock worrying is devastat- ing because it has a huge impact on their productivity. While insur- ance can cover the cost of replac- ing stock killed and the treatment of injured animals, the knock-on effect on breeding programmes can take years to overcome. “The number of incidents re- ported to NFU Mutual shows only part of the picture, as not all farm- ers have insurance in place to cov- er livestock worrying and based on claims to us, we estimate the cost to agriculture was £1.6 mil- lion last year.”
Police face big challenges in tackling irresponsible dog owners
Police say they face a number of challenges when dealing with sheep worrying and dog attacks on other livestock. Dog owners do not have a legal responsi- bility to report when their dog has attacked livestock, says a report by the National Po- lice Chiefs’ Council. And in the majority of incidents, the dog owner is not present – showing that the issue goes beyond keep- ing dogs on a lead. Attacks are only unlawful in particular lo-
cations. For example, if an attack takes place on a public lane it is not classed as unlaw- ful. Police are unable to search a dog-own-
54 ANGLIA FARMER • MARCH 2018
er’s home to search for and seize a dog that has worried or caused damage to livestock. Over the last year, five police forces – in-
cluding Hertfordshire – analysed data on livestock worrying on their systems from September 2013 to 2017.
They found 1705 recorded incidents of
livestock worrying and attacks in the five force areas. Some 1928 animals were killed, and 1614 injured – at a cost of £250,000. Chief constable David Jones, the NPCC’s lead officer for wildlife and rural crime, said: “Above all, we need the powers to tackle this problem effectively and an overhaul of the
outdated and sometimes ineffective rules surrounding livestock worrying.” CLA legal adviser Andrew Gillett said: “Dog attacks on livestock have a major fi- nancial and emotional impact on farmers. We fully support any extra measures need- ed to reduce incidences of livestock worry- ing and to help police investigate the crime. “Alongside this, a new approach is needed to allow farmers to temporarily divert pub- lic rights of way where livestock is present. This would provide flexibility for farmers, enhance safety for users and improve an- imal welfare.”
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