Renewed calls to prevent dog attacks on farm animals this Bank Holiday
NFU Mutual says in 2020, the cost of dog attacks on livestock increased by over 10% in the UK
There are renewed calls for countryside visitors to prevent dog attacks on farm animals over this Bank Holiday weekend.
Thousands of people are expected to visit the South West and head to the countryside to walk their dogs.
According to NFU Mutual claims estimates, the issue has worsened in the first quarter of 2021.
In 2020, the UK cost of dog attacks on livestock increased by over 10% to an estimated £1.3m
With thousands of people expected to head to the South West over the May Bank Holiday, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is renewing calls for dog owners to keep their pets under control.
The warning comes after footage was shared on social media this week showing a dog attacking sheep in North Devon. It’s just one of many incidents of dogs injuring and killing livestock.
Sheep farmers are bracing themselves for an influx of countryside dog walkers as more people enjoy the outdoors as lockdown restrictions ease. With many ewes and lambs currently grazing, there is an increased risk they could be attacked by dogs which are not kept on a lead.
According to leading rural insurer NFU Mutual the issue of livestock worrying cost the region an estimated £185,000 last year. Across the UK, the cost of dog attacks rose by over 10% in 2020 to an estimated £1.3m.
Not only are sheep left with horrific, even fatal injuries, the distress of being chased can also cause sheep to die, miscarry or separate lambs from their mothers.
The pandemic has seen a surge in pet ownership and countryside visitors, and there are concerns some will be unfamiliar with the Countryside Code and how their pet may react around livestock
According to a survey of over 1,200 dog owners commissioned by NFU Mutual, 64% said they let their dog roam free off the lead in the countryside - yet half admit their pet doesn’t always come back when called.
Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said:
"Many farmers are getting worried about Bank Holiday Weekend and are having to do extra patrols to ensure their sheep are safe.
"The severity and scale of dog attacks have been devastating for an industry that’s worked so hard to feed the nation during difficult times. Behind the figures there’s the anxiety for farmers and their families as they deal with the aftermath of these horrific attacks, and the impact on breeding programmes that can take many years to overcome."
Walkers are encouraged to report any incidents of livestock worrying they witness and to use the ‘What3Words’ app to pinpoint their exact location.
To make dog walking safe, NFU Mutual has issued the following advice:
- Always keep dogs on the lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle
- Be aware that even small lap dogs can chase, injure and kill farm animals
- Take special care to keep close control of dogs unused to farm animals
- Report attacks by dogs and sightings of dogs roaming the countryside to the police or local farmers
- Don’t let dogs loose and unsupervised in gardens adjoining livestock fields - many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby