Rise in dog attacks on livestock worries Lincolnshire farmers

Concerns are being raised across Lincolnshire's farming community over an increase in the number dogs who attack and sometimes even kill livestock.

Figures show there's been a rise in incidents, injuries and deaths.

The issue has cost farmers almost two million pounds in the last year across the UK.

As part of our 'Take the Lead' campaign we're helping to raise awareness.

It encourages people visiting the countryside to keep dogs on the lead.

We have the right to shoot them - although that won't be undertaken lightly

We spoke to Rhonda Thompson from the National Farmers Union in Lincolnshire about the problem.

She told us: "The natural instinct of a dog is to chase and we've got livestock in fields like young calves and sheep and they're going to run."

"Even if the dog chases any livestock and it looks like there hasn't been an injury those animals could well abort."

The safest thing to do is have dogs on the lead

"Obviously a farmer has the right to shoot a dog that is worrying livestock and I would like to emphasise this isn't something that would be undertaken lightly."

"If there's a position where there's no other option then that might be the outcome."

"We all think our dogs are well behaved, we also think they won't do it but the hunting and preying instinct is embedded in any domestic dog."

"The best behaved dogs can become excited if livestock starts to run and they may try and find a way into the field."

"The safest thing to do is have them on the lead to avoid it."

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