To mark the National Sheep Association’s ‘Sheep Worrying Week’, which takes place from this week from April 14 until April 21, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has issued advice to dog walkers around livestock.
It is a criminal offence under the Dogs Protection of Livestock Act (1953) to allow a dog to worry sheep, and dog owners found accountable can be punished with a fine of up to £1,000.
According to the RSPCA, there are calls for increased legislation, including imprisonment for the most serious offenders.
In some circumstances, farmers are legally entitled to shoot dogs if they are endangering their sheep, the RSPCA outlined.
National Sheep Association issued rules for dog owners to follow when walking dogs in the countryside, including:
- Keep dogs on a lead and under control at all times;
- Keep to footpaths where possible and never approach livestock;
- Remove any dog faeces, as this can cause parasitic infection in sheep flocks;
- If you live in or near a farming area, you must make sure that your dog cannot escape from your property, as it may find its way onto land containing sheep.
The RSPCA acknowledged that while the vast majority of dog owners take care around farmed animals as a matter of course, sadly accidents can happen and even the most seemingly docile and obedient dogs can get distracted and excited by grazing animals nearby.
The association also maintained that straying dogs are one of the biggest culprits of sheep worrying attacks.
It reminded owners to check that garden hedges and fences are secure and to never leave a dog unattended in the garden if there is any risk of them getting out.
Sheep worrying
RSPCA farm animal welfare expert for cattle, sheep and goats, Holly Gower said: “While you might think there is no harm done if your dog momentarily chases livestock and comes back quickly without injuring them, being chased by a dog causes the animal stress and anxiety.
“This can cause lots of problems for farmed animals – and even lead to pregnancy loss, which is particularly tragic. Sheep are most likely to be impacted by livestock worrying as a prey species, which can cause significant distress for them.
“Severe attacks can have a devastating effect, resulting in injury and even death. This also has an adverse impact on the farmers themselves, both in terms of their livelihood and the emotional toll of seeing their animals suffer.
“This is why we want to see dog owners ensuring they’re being responsible pet owners by always keeping their dogs on leads around sheep and other farmed animals.”
The RSPCA also highlighted the associated risk to human safety – explaining that if the dog’s owner or other people are in the field, cattle can become defensive and charge, knocking people to the ground and potentially trampling over them.
The RSPCA, Cheshire Police, and the Naturewatch Foundation recently came together to raise awareness of the issue of livestock worrying under a new scheme called ‘Operation Recall’.
The scheme began as a local initiative in Cheshire but has since been rolled out to other police forces nationally, with the support of the newly established National Rural Crime Unit.
The scheme includes an awareness-raising campaign aimed at educating the public and preventing livestock worrying incidents in future.
An educational video has been provided to police forces to use as part of restorative justice after an incident occurs.
