Campaign highlights new legislation to protect livestock from dog attacks

A campaign to protect Scotland’s livestock has been launched following new legislation which protects animals from dog attacks through measures including updating the livestock definition, fines up to £40,000 and prison sentences for owners who let their pets worry, kill or injure farmed animals.

The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) is launching the Livestock Attack and Distress campaign with the slogan Your Dog – Your Responsibility to educate dog owners about the new legislation, plus, where applicable, use the new powers to report owners of dogs which attack livestock.

The campaign was launched by SPARC on Wednesday January 11 at an event at Pentland Hills Regional Park, near Balerno, Edinburgh. The park is a popular location for dog walking and has experienced a number of attacks on farm animals in recent years.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on November 5 2021 following a successful Members’

Bill brought by Emma Harper, MSP, supported by SPARC, NFU Scotland and livestock owners.

Under the new legislation, camelids such as llamas and alpacas, together with ostriches, game birds and farmed deer are now protected. The inclusion of the word ‘attack’ is welcomed as this reflects the serious aspect of such an incident. The new law also includes provision to fine the owners of dogs that attack livestock up to £40,000 or send them to prison. The need to communicate the new measures to the dog-owning public has been shown by a recent survey* commissioned by rural insurer NFU Mutual with Scottish dog owners. Only four per cent of people surveyed knew they could now be fined up to £40,000 if their dog attacked livestock and only 22 per cent knew they could be jailed if their dog attacked livestock.

NFU Mutual claims figures show dog attacks on livestock in the UK rose by 50 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period the previous year, as the pandemic led to an increase in dog ownership and countryside visits. Inspector Alan Dron, Police Scotland national rural crime co-ordinator, said: ‘Attacks on livestock by dogs is an emotive issue that impacts on rural communities therefore Police Scotland welcomes this new legislation.’

NFU Scotland rural business policy adviser Rhianna Montgomery said: ‘NFUS is delighted to be involved in this campaign. With hundreds of incidents across Scotland each year, the protection of livestock is paramount. The new Bill gives greatly enhanced powers to tackle this blight.’ Mark McBrearty, regional manager for Scotland at NFU Mutual, said: ‘Dog attacks are causing appalling suffering to animals and huge anxiety for farmers and crofters as they deal with the aftermath. The new legislation is a huge step forward as it means farmers and police are able to trace offending dogs’ owners and impose serious penalties.’

*Survey conducted for NFU Mutual by Petbuzz Market Research with 261 Scottish dog owners from December 23 2021 to January 6 2022.