Dogs pose danger to livestock
From Monday police in Forth Valley will be supporting a national campaign aimed at reducing the instances of livestock worrying which affect farming communities.
The upcoming spring lambing period is when sheep are at greatest risk.
A dog attacking, chasing or even being at large in a field where sheep are kept can lead to significant injury, which often leads to the sheep being killed or destroyed.
Such attacks have a financial and emotional impact on the farmer while causing immense suffering to the animal.
The vast majority of livestock worrying incidents involve sheep and can occur when a dog attacks, chases or, in the case of sheep, is at large in a field where livestock is kept.
The devastating effects of a dog attack are evident and cannot be overstated but significant damage can also be caused by a dog simply being present in a field. Inspector Gerry McMenemy discusses a new campaign aimed at those who walk their dogs in the countryside.
Pregnant ewes can abort their lambs or lambs can be separated from their mothers, causing distress and in some cases malnutrition.
This can be avoided if dog owners follow some simple steps. Our advice to those who live in rural areas or anyone walking and exercising their dogs in the countryside is to ensure that their pet is under control at all times and avoid going into fields where livestock is grazing.
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says that dogs shouldn’t be taken into fields where there are lambs or other young farm animals.
I’d urge farmers and anyone else using the countryside to report all incidents of livestock worrying to police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.