Call for larger fines over dog attacks on sheep
Owners who let their dogs attack sheep should face larger fines which would compensate sheep farmers for the full financial losses suffered, backed up by the option of imprisonment in severe or repeat cases.
Claiming t hat current penalty levels do not act as enough of a deterrent to prevent dog owners from allowing their dogs to attack livestock, NFU Scotland yesterday called for courts to send a strong message that such behaviour is unacceptable.
Responding to a consultation on a proposed Scottish Parliament Members Bill on livestock worrying, the union reiterated the need for harsher penalties, including custodial sentences and options for community payment orders for those found guilty of letting their dogs savage sheep.
The union also welcomed moves proposed in the bill brought forward by Emma Harper MSP to grant the police additional powers, including the ability to issue Dog Control Notices.
NFUS vice-president Charlie Adam yesterday said that over the past five years the union had stepped up its activities to tackle livestock worrying, including a 12- month national campaign to help educate dog owners on their responsibilities.
He said t he union has spent considerable time, effort and resource on what he termed “this blight on the countryside” in recent years: “Efforts have been focussed on awareness raising amongst dog owners of their responsibilities, raising awareness amongst livestock keepers of their rights and lobbying local authorities and Police Scotland to use control mechanisms available to them.” However he said that current penalty levels were not sufficient to act as enough of a deterrent to prevent dog owners from allowing their dogs to carry out livestock attacks:
“Increasing financial penalties would send a strong message that it is unacceptable to allow a dog to worry livestock,” said Adam who added additional police powers could help increase the number of successful prosecutions. “We believe adding imprisonment to the sanctions for extremely severe cases or where an individual is a repeat offender is necessary.”
He said the union was also aware of several cases where perpetrators had avoided fines due to an inability to pay.