Only a small proportion of livestock worrying incidents that are investigated by authorities in NI end with a successful prosecution, statistics from local councils confirm.
The most up-to-date figures for all 11 councils in NI show that 37 incidents of livestock worrying by dogs were investigated from April to June 2018, but only one case resulted in a prosecution.
The figures indicate that prosecutions were considered for six cases of dog attacks on livestock during the three-month period.
Mid Ulster District Council had the highest number of cases under investigation with nine incidents. However, none of these cases were considered for prosecution.
On enquiry, a spokesperson for the council said there are “key challenges” with delivering a successful prosecution for dog attacks on livestock.
“It is important for farmers themselves, all the agencies and the police to work together at local level to gather intelligence on who these irresponsible owners are to ensure successful prosecution when needed,” the spokesperson said.
It is an offence in NI to have an unrestrained dog on land that contains livestock. Farmers who find their livestock being attacked or worried by dogs are advised by authorities to contact the PSNI and the local council dog warden.
Legislation in NI gives a farmer grounds to shoot a dog that is worrying livestock on their farm. However, the farmer must be able to prove that there were “no other reasonable means” of ending the incident.
A farmer can also shoot a dog after livestock worrying has ended if the dog has not left the vicinity and there are “no practical means” of finding out who the dog belongs to. Legislation requires farmers to contact the PSNI within 48 hours of shooting a dog that has been worrying livestock.
Proposals
To help tackle the increase in livestock worrying by dogs, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) has proposed setting up a database of dog DNA to help police catch dogs, and new powers to allow the PSNI to seize dogs that repeatedly worry livestock.
UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said: “We want to see all owners having to report attacks on livestock. We also want to see it made compulsory that dog owners take steps to prevent their dog escaping and for all dogs to be on a lead when visiting countryside with livestock. These may sound like tough measures, but they are necessary to curb this problem.”
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Only a small proportion of livestock worrying incidents that are investigated by authorities in NI end with a successful prosecution, statistics from local councils confirm.
The most up-to-date figures for all 11 councils in NI show that 37 incidents of livestock worrying by dogs were investigated from April to June 2018, but only one case resulted in a prosecution.
The figures indicate that prosecutions were considered for six cases of dog attacks on livestock during the three-month period.
Mid Ulster District Council had the highest number of cases under investigation with nine incidents. However, none of these cases were considered for prosecution.
On enquiry, a spokesperson for the council said there are “key challenges” with delivering a successful prosecution for dog attacks on livestock.
“It is important for farmers themselves, all the agencies and the police to work together at local level to gather intelligence on who these irresponsible owners are to ensure successful prosecution when needed,” the spokesperson said.
It is an offence in NI to have an unrestrained dog on land that contains livestock. Farmers who find their livestock being attacked or worried by dogs are advised by authorities to contact the PSNI and the local council dog warden.
Legislation in NI gives a farmer grounds to shoot a dog that is worrying livestock on their farm. However, the farmer must be able to prove that there were “no other reasonable means” of ending the incident.
A farmer can also shoot a dog after livestock worrying has ended if the dog has not left the vicinity and there are “no practical means” of finding out who the dog belongs to. Legislation requires farmers to contact the PSNI within 48 hours of shooting a dog that has been worrying livestock.
Proposals
To help tackle the increase in livestock worrying by dogs, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) has proposed setting up a database of dog DNA to help police catch dogs, and new powers to allow the PSNI to seize dogs that repeatedly worry livestock.
UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said: “We want to see all owners having to report attacks on livestock. We also want to see it made compulsory that dog owners take steps to prevent their dog escaping and for all dogs to be on a lead when visiting countryside with livestock. These may sound like tough measures, but they are necessary to curb this problem.”
Read more
Calls for owners to control dogs following sheep kill in Offaly
Down breeder speaks of 'pandemonium' after sheep killed by dogs
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