06 September 2000

RSPCA Call to Stop Livestock Worrying

A campaign urging pet owners to exercise responsibility as well as their dogs is being launched in a bid to reduce thousands of unnecessary attacks on livestock by dogs. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), National Farmers Union (NFU) and the National Sheep Association (NSA) have teamed up for the first time to highlight the problem. Every year tens of thousands of livestock are killed or maimed by dogs allowed to run riot near farm animals. Terrified sheep and cattle have miscarried, been chased over cliffs and into rivers, or had their throats and intestines ripped out through dog attacks. Last autumn Devon farmer Roger Hayward was horrified to discover 110 of his sheep suffocated and piled on top of one another in the corner of his field. It is believed the terrified animals were herded and chased by at least one uncontrolled dog. Dr Julia Wrathall, from the RSPCA's farm animals department, said: "Livestock worrying is a serious animal welfare problem which not only puts farm animals at risk but dogs too - they can be trampled by cattle and horses. "People find it hard to believe their pet can be a hazard to livestock but whatever their temperament dogs have a chase instinct that can be triggered by the sight or movement of farm animals. That's why it's so important to keep dogs on leads near livestock and under control at all times." With few exceptions, the law allows farmers to shoot dogs that are threatening livestock. If a dog worries livestock, the dog's owner or person responsible for it at the time, is guilty of an offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 and may be sued for compensation by the farmer.