4
LIVESTOCK WORRYING
PrivateMembers Bill tosp n
ew laws o ndo
A MAJOR new campaign to put an end to dog attacks across Wales has won the support of CeredigionMP Ben Lake. The FUWhas linked up with other organisations to remind dog owners, “Your dog, your responsibility” and is calling for legislative changes that reflect the seriousness of the offense. And now Mr Lake has pledged to put forward a Private Members Bill in the Commons to bring
forward new legislation which will criminalise dog owners whose animals attack livestock and will provide a mechanism for compensation for farmers. Key to the latest moves are figures from NorthWales Police, the only force to maintain records
and statistics, which show that 8 9 per cent of all dog attacks on livestock happen when they stray from home. “We are very grateful to North Wales Police for recording this data. Previous campaigns have
focused on dog walkers, but as figures show, themain issue appears to be those that escape from the back garden,” said FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright. “As the law stands at the moment there is very little that can be to recompense the farmer or tominimise the chance of re‐ offending.” The union believes that the only way to tackle increasing attacks is by introducing new laws
g co tron l
which will act as a powerful deterrent. There were 4 4 9 cases of livestock attacks between 2 1 0 3 ‐ 2 0 1 7 in NorthWales alone, but there continues to be under reporting by farmers due to a lack of confidence in the legal system.
Around 1 5 ,0 0 0 sheep were killed by dogs in 2 0 1 6 . At £7 5 per carcase, a loss of £1 .3 million
pounds. Other losses include abortions, loss of breeding stock and the cost of veterinary bills. Currently there are fourmain pieces of law covering livestock attacks but all are antiquated and
do not fit with current agricultural practices or the seriousness of the offense. “This is a major issue for the livestock farmers of Wales, impacting on incomes and in some
cases causing severe mental health issues for those involved,” said Mr Lake. “I will be putting forward a Private Members Bill in Parliament in an attempt to fast track much needed powers aimed at reducing the incidence of this serious threat to life and rural livelihoods.”
“It appears that education alone cannot solve this complex issue,” said Dr Wright. “The lack of
substantive legal action means that there is no real deterrent for offenders and the FUWwill not stop until changes in the legislation ensure that Welsh and English police have the powers to properly deal with offenders.
Help end the devastation caused by dog attacks
All dogs have the potential to stress, injure or kill livestock
Did you know that 89% of dog attacks on livestock are caused by dogs that have escaped from their home when owners think they’re safe and secure?
• There were 449 cases of livestock attacks between 2103-2017 in North Wales alone
• Under reporting by farmers continues due to a lack of confidence in a legal system which does not allow for proper enforcement and proportionate penalties
• Around 15,000 sheep were killed by dogs in 2016
• At £75 per carcase, this equates to a loss of £1.3 million from a sector which already experiences low profitability and tight margins
• Other losses include abortions, loss of breeding stock and the cost of veterinary bills
• There are 4 main pieces of law covering livestock attacks but all are antiquated and do not fit with current agricultural practices or the seriousness of the offense
• The FUW are calling for changes which will act as a proper deterrent and help end the horror of dog attacks in Wales
Y TIR eed
The FUW are calling for these changes to current legislation:
1. Mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces
2. Definition of ‘livestock’ to include livestock not covered by the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953
3. Legal responsibility for dog owners to report an attack
4. Increase in the £1000 maximum fine and the use of custodial or equivalent sentences
5. Measures to allow full compensation of losses incurred
6. Power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs
7. Power to confiscate dogs and ban a dog owner from future possession of a dog
8. Powers of dog destruction after conviction with the 1953 Act
9. Definition of ‘arable land’ to include sheep moving between fields on public highways
10. Tighter definition of ‘under close control’ as applied to dogs walked near livestock
PLEDGE TO PUT FORWARD A PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL IN THE COMMONS: FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright with CeredigionMP Ben Lake.
The FUWwants:
• Mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces.
• Changes to the current limited and outdated fines ‐ currently a maximumnon imprisonable offense with amaximumfine of up to £1 ,0 0 0 .
• Fines levied on offenders should be proportionate and should allow for full compensation.
• Police forces granted the power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs.
• Powers to confiscate dogs.
• Legal responsibility for dog owner to report attack to prevent badly injured sheep being left to suffer. • Failure to report an attack should be an offence. • Power to ban an owner from owning another dog. • Powers of dog destruction after conviction with the 1 9 5 3 act.
Other proposals include:
• A change to the definition of ‘arable land’ as attacks are only enforceable on arable land and if a farmer is moving sheep between fields on a public highway legislation isn’t valid.
• Awider definition of ‘livestock’ is also needed as certain animals, such as deer, llamas and alpacas, are not covered by the 1 9 5 3 act.
#YourDogYourResponsibility
• There also needs to be a proper definition of ‘under close control’ as it applies to dogs being walked near livestock.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24
