A UK multi-force police working group has called for changes in the law regarding dog ownership and sheep attacks. The changes would include making dog attacks a recordable crime, giving police power to seize dogs, the creation of a DNA database for offending dogs and harsher sentences for owners.
This was after an all-party parliamentary group for animal welfare found that an estimated 15,000 sheep were killed by dogs in just one year, costing farming sector around £1.3m.
Some of the law changes recommended in the police report would include:
William Nicholl of farm insurance broker specialist Lycetts points to a possible lack of understanding in dog owners as part of the cause of the problem.
He said: “What many dog owners don’t realise is that their dog does not have to physically attack a sheep to cause harm.
“Even if a dog does not make contact with the livestock, the stress from worrying by dogs can cause sheep to die – often by the dozen – and expectant ewes to abort.”
He also warned that dogs involved in the attacks could be shot by the farmer or destroyed by the local council and said if the government pushes ahead with the police recommendations, “the owner will also be facing a punishment more reflective of the loss felt by the farmer – which is worth bearing in mind for the future”.