Problem of dog attacks on sheep

With the lambing season approaching and reports of dog attacks on sheep increasing, the National Sheep Association (NSA) and RSPCA have teamed up to urge dog owners to take extra care.

Every year sheep are killed, maimed and miscarry because of being chased and attacked by dogs. This is a serious animal welfare concern and also caused a great deal of emotional stress and financial cost to sheep farmers around the country.

Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive, said: “A growing number of our members continue to tell us of some horrendous attacks they have suffered to their livestock. It is not only the harrowing injuries which out of control dogs have inflicted, but also the losses they have suffered as a result of dogs simply chasing livestock.

“The risk of heavily pregnant ewes aborting is extremely high after suffering the stress of been chased by dogs, not to mention the risk of young lambs becoming separated from their mother at a critical early bonding stage. Lambs will die from starvation or hypothermia when they become separated from their mother and fail to find her again.”

Both the NSA and RSPCA say there is a very simple way to stop these attacks – keep your dog on a lead around livestock.