Government lays plans to tackle livestock worrying

Following the concerning increase of attacks on livestock over the past year, the government laid plans to combat the issue as part of its Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Hoping to ease farmers’ concerns, the plan will seek to ‘revolutionise’ animal welfare, including a tougher stance on sheep worrying crimes.

The new action plan is the first of its kind and will cover all aspects of animal wellbeing. Within the new document the government states:

‘We are aware that dog attacks on livestock are a serious and growing concern to rural communities, police forces and farmers. Livestock worrying can cause much emotional distress, to all who see the aftermath and can be economically catastrophic to the livelihoods of our farmers. To address this, we will legislate to ensure that new powers are available to the police so they can respond to the most serious incidents of livestock worrying.’

It comes after Scotland took a stronger stance against attacks, with Scottish dog owners facing up to £40,000 in fines, and possible prison sentences for the most serious of offences.

The National Sheep Association (NSA), commented on the new plan and said it hoped the UK would soon be an equal playing field for legislation. Currently the regulations differ in the various countries of the UK.

“NSA was pleased to welcome the announcement this week that the police are to be given new powers to respond more effectively to the most serious incidents of sheep worrying,” NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said. “NSA has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and part of this has been efforts to achieve a change in legislation in England and Wales, protecting sheep farmers more effectively from dog attacks.”

Two thirds of sheep farmers experienced increased attacks over the past year.

The NSA has been vocally campaigning for more awareness from dog walkers. This spring the association ran a successful #LeadOn campaign to educate dog owners on the law when walking. This campaign came just after both the NSA and the NFU published polls showing the damage caused by attacks over the past year, with the NFU’s results indicating that only 40 per cent of dog walkers believe their pet is a threat to livestock. Despite the increased media coverage this year, attacks have continued to climb in number, costing an estimated £1.3million to farmers across 2020.

Mr Stocker at the NSA said: “The NSA is committed to ensuring the public develops a better understanding of the stress and suffering that any dog, no matter its breed, can cause to sheep. It is a serious animal welfare issue that puts both sheep and much loved pets at risk.”

As part of the #LeadOn campaign NSA published a survey which highlighted the concerning increase in cases of sheep worrying by dogs over the past year. More than two thirds of sheep farmers experienced an increase in attacks with each farmer on average experiencing seven separate incidents during the past year. Farmers completing the survey also reported feelings of anxiety, anger, upset, stress and frustration as a result of sheep worrying by dog attacks.

The Government plan gives those in the countryside hope that the issue is being taken seriously and will no longer be tolerated. Farmers are encouraged to report any instances of livestock worrying, or walkers failing to comply with the rules to the police. Even reports of minor incidents help the police build a pattern in the area and will enable them to take more action in the future.