Farmers call for action to end dog attacks on livestock

Farmers in East Sussex are calling for action to tackle an increase in dog attacks on livestock.

Land owners say the number of attacks on sheep, goats and cattle have risen in the last year.

In the latest incident, a sheep was killed by a dog attack in a grazing enclosure in Ashdown Forest on Friday.

Farm owner Annie Brown, who lives on the South Downs, near Shoreham, wants a licencing system for dog walkers.

A survey of more than 1,100 dog owners commissioned by NFU Mutual found that dog walkers are becoming more distracted, with their pets out of sight, and are often unaware of the damage that could be inflicted.

Many remain unaware that even if their dog doesn’t come into contact with a sheep, the distress caused by the chase can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry.

Ms Brown said dog owners were often “mortified” that their pets were capable of attacking livestock.

“We’ve had two incidences where dogs have escaped from their homes and their gardens, and come and savaged sheep without anybody walking them,” she told BBC Radio Sussex.

“And sadly, once a dog has had a flavour of blood, we fear it will happen again.”

She said a licence for professional dog walkers would help dog owners understand what they were signing up for and help land owners manage the aftermath better.

“You could set up a register with a small fee, but I think in the grand scheme of things, it would be a good solution for everybody.”

The NFU says livestock worrying includes barking, chasing, biting and killing.

It is a criminal offence and dog owners could be liable for prosecution or a fine.

Under the Animals Act 1971, a dog could be shot if caught in the act by a landowner.

Ben Carr, who runs Ovingdean Grange Farm, backed the calls for a dog walkers licence, stating that dog attacks had got worse and more frequent since the pandemic.

“It’s becoming the norm,” he said. “Everyone decided to get a dog, but they weren’t really sure what they were signing up to.

“It is becoming a real problem for all farmers on the South Downs.”

New forensic technology is being tested in Kent as part of research to help identify dogs involved in livestock attacks.

Ten police forces in England and Wales are involved, and hoping the research project will improve the collection of offending dog DNA gathered from attacked livestock.