Renewed pleas to keep dogs on leads near sheep

FARMING leaders have raised serious concerns over out-of-control 'pandemic puppies, following a spike in sheep worrying incidents.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

The National Sheep Association (NSA) says recently released statistics from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) highlighting concerns over behavioural issues in dogs may be behind the growing number of farmers experiencing devastating attacks on their flocks.

According to the BVA's latest Voice for the Veterinary Profession survey, half of vets in the UK have seen a rise in clients with concerns about their dogs' increasingly aggressive behaviour over the last 12 months.

"While vets in the survey were often unsure about the exact age of the dogs involved, in cases where the age was known, 87% of dogs were believed to be under three years of age, highlighting the longer-term impacts of the pandemic on puppies bought over lockdown," BVA said in a statement.