‘We need tighter laws to safeguard our livestock’
An MP is calling for changes in the law to help tackle the problem of dogs attacking livestock.
Delyn MP David Hanson has written to Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove urging him to tighten the laws surrounding sheepworrying.
Last month the All Party Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) recommended a review of sentences and sentencing guidelines under the Dogs (Prevention of Livestock) Act 1953. The APGAW also said police forces should improve the consistency of their response as well as recording and publishing the number of incidents.
Mr Hanson, who is a member of the group, said: “Livestock attacks result in a huge financial burden for our pastoral farmers in Delyn.
“The law, as it stands, does not put in the protections for them and in some cases sees farmers losing out, as the maximum fine that can be imposed is £1,000. The cost of destroying an animal can be £150, meaning that a lost flock will cost far and above the maximum fine.
“Awareness also needs to be raised on responsible dog ownership around livestock and North Wales Police have been taking measures to ensure that this happens.
“But this needs the support of the UK Government so that they can effectively police the situation. We need to have in place laws that empower our police to secure farmers’ property and stop these horrific attacks.”
Each year dogs kill up to 15,000 sheep around the UK, estimates suggest, costing farmers as much as £1.3m. But the full scale of the problem is uncertain as many incidents are unreported.
Between 2013-17 North Wales Police recorded 449 incidents, which resulted in 648 livestock being killed and a further 376 injured.
North Wales Rural Crime Team manager Rob Taylor said: “We have identified a major rural issue in the UK that has largely gone unreported. We are working with the Government to update old law and increase education. We are the first force to record stats on this issue and are leading the way nationally. Attacks remain constant, with 100 a year in the region.”
FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “Livestock-worrying continues to be an important issue for our members and we have repeatedly documented the wide-reaching damage that dog attacks can cause.
“The issues behind dog-worrying are complex and it is frustrating that, despite significant industry investment, many members of the public remain unaware that their family pet can attack, injure or kill livestock.”
One sheep farmer in the Vale of Glamorgan said he was close to giving up farming after losing around a fifth of his flock in a string of dog attacks since the summer.
Ben Jones rents 65 acres near Hensol with his wife Julia. The couple have spent years building up their business, but between July and October their flock of less than 100 ewes was subject to three dog attacks.
In the first attack, a dog killed six ewes and injured eight. On October 4 nine ewes were killed and four badly injured, and on October 18 another three ewes were killed and four badly injured. On that occasion Mr Jones saw the attack in progress and managed to get a photograph of the dog. He was advised by police that he was within his rights to shoot the animal, but as a dog-owner himself he was reluctant to do so.
Dr Wright added: “What we need to protect farm businesses from the severe financial and emotional stress is improved public awareness coupled with central recording of incidences, tighter regulation and better enforcement.
“Because of such attacks farm businesses like Ben’s lose stock, production decreases due to stress on the animals and farmers have to deal with their animals aborting lambs and calves and with that the loss of future earnings from stock.
“I urge those walking their dogs in the countryside to put their dogs on a lead and it is also critical that farmers come forward and report such incidents to the police.”