Counting cost of dog attacks
SHEEP farmers are being urged to share their experiences of dog attacks and help inform policy direction on the issue which continues to blight flocks in the South West and nationally.
The National Sheep Association’s (NSA) dog worrying survey aims to gather data on the sort of attacks farmers have had to deal with, how often they happen and how they impact them - both financially and emotionally.
It comes as dog attacks appear to have been growing in case numbers and severity over the past year.
According to figures published earlier this month by rural insurer, NFU Mutual, dog attacks on farm animals in the South West cost over £185,000 in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic brought a surge in pet ownership and countryside visitors.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, said: “For many years NSA has been engaged in trying to highlight the serious issue of sheep worrying attacks by dogs. This has seen NSA involved in many discussions with rural police forces, animal welfare charities, the veterinary sector and of course Government as we have, alongside others, called for changes in legislation to protect our sheep farmers and their stock.
“To facilitate this work NSA is appealing to all sheep farmers in the UK to supply the most up to date information and experiences they may have had with attacks on their flocks in this survey.”
Launched this week, the 2021 NSA survey includes many new elements seeking information on farmers’ experiences and their thoughts on how the issue could be resolved.
Devastatingly, the NSA hears from many sheep farmers experiencing problems with dogs chasing and attacking sheep on a weekly basis with case numbers appearing to have increased whilst the nation has been in lockdown.
Through completing the survey, respondents are helping to ensure the best possible voice can be put forward supporting calls for legal and cultural changes, Mr Stocker added. “As one of the few leisure activities that the population has still been able to enjoy in the past year an increased number of walkers often accompanied by their pet dogs have been passing through farmland.
“Although thankfully the majority of owners are responsible, there is a small number that allow their dogs to run through fields of livestock under little or no control and the resulting effect can be devastating, from extremely distressed sheep to severe injury and sadly, far too often death.”
All survey data will be collected anonymously and form part of the NSA’s 2021 Sheep Worrying by Dogs campaign, which is scheduled to run throughout 2021 and promote responsible dog ownership.
The survey is now available to complete at www.surveymonkey.co. uk/r/sheepworrying2021