Fresh plea to stop dog attacks on sheep flocks

ONGOING failures by dog owners to recognise the threat their pets pose to livestock is leading to continued devastating attacks, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has warned.

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Publishing the results of its latest sheep worrying survey, the organisation says it found that 87% of respondents had experienced a dog attack on their flock in the last 12 months - and cited the main cause as the “simple refusal” of owners to keep their dogs on a lead while walking in the countryside.

This comes as the NSA stages its annual Sheep Worrying by Dogs Awareness Week, during which case studies of farmer experiences will be shared as well as information on new technology in development to help achieve further prosecutions for those found guilty of allowing attacks on sheep to happen.

Nicola Noble, project manager at the NSA, explained: "Dog owners often assume their beloved pet could not be capable of causing harm to other animals, yet it is an instinctive response of a dog to chase, and for some, attack prey animals such as sheep.

"Barking, chasing and physical attacks can all have devastating effects on sheep, especially at this time of the year when so many sheep in the fields are heavily pregnant or have young, vulnerable lambs at foot."