Warning to dog owners: keep pets on leads around livestock
Wiltshire Police is asking dog walkers to be considerate
Dog owners in Wiltshire are being urged to keep their pets on a lead around pregnant ewes and lambs.
Attacks on livestock are continuing to rise - which can prove costly for farmers.
Agriculture covers 73% of Wiltshire's landscape.
Police in the county are backing a nationwide campaign called Operation Recall, asking dog walkers to be more considerate.
Landowners do have the power to shoot any animals interfering with their livestock.
A number of tips have been shared by Wiltshire Police to prevent incidents:
- Keep dogs on a short lead when around livestock
- Clear up after your dog as faeces can harm cattle and sheep – and humans too!
- Remember your actions can affect other people's lives and livelihoods
- Tampering with farm signs and electric fences that are intended to everybody keep safe could have serious consequences
- Please do not remove signs that are there to keep people safe and always leave gates how you found them - or follow instructions on signs on gates
- If you see a dog or dogs chasing livestock please call 999 and provide as much information as possible
- Photo or video evidence of any dogs may help if you can do so safely
We're asked to report any wildlife crimes by calling 101 after an event or 999, if a crime is in progress.