Sheep Worrying Awareness Week

The National Sheep Association (NSA) will intensify its work to highlight the devastating issue of sheep worrying by dogs during its week long awareness campaign beginning on Monday 25th March 2024.

The annual campaign is timed to coincide with a period that often sees a spike in attacks on sheep, as day length increases and dog walkers begin to spend more recreational time walking through fields, potentially home to livestock. The spring months are also the peak season for lambing in the UK, meaning vulnerable stock is even more at risk from being chased by dogs and physical, often fatal attacks.

NSA’s previous work on the issue has demonstrated recurring years of increased reports of dog attacks on sheep, showing the urgent need for action to tackle this crisis that threatens animal welfare, and farmers’ mental wellbeing and livelihoods.

This year NSA has sought feedback from Police rural crime teams across the country on their experiences of sheep worrying cases with the aim of highlighting the need for strengthened policy on the issue and the role that police teams can have in preventing continued attacks.

The campaign will include social media activity using the campaign hashtag #LeadOn, online case studies and content on the NSA website.

For more information on the issue of sheep worrying by dogs and NSA’s work on this issue please visit www.sheepworrying.org.uk.