A MONTH-LONG campaign has been launched by Police Scotland to raise awareness among dog owners about the devastating effects of livestock worrying.
It coincides with a rise in livestock attacks by dogs during November, a time when sheep are brought down to low lying pasture, in areas more accessible by people exercising their dogs or by local dogs that are allowed to roam free.
The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, a multi-agency entity which includes Police Scotland, the National Farmers Union of Scotland and landowners body Scottish Land and Estates, is working with Scottish Natural Heritage to promote responsible dog walking in the countryside.
Police Scotland rural crime co-ordinator inspector Jane Donaldson said: “Rural dog owners and those who choose to exercise their dogs in the countryside must ensure they are under control at all times and avoid going into fields where livestock is grazing. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says that dogs shouldn’t be taken into fields where there are lambs or other young farm animals.
“The worrying of sheep and other livestock by domestic dogs not only has an obvious financial and emotional impact on farmers when their animals are killed or injured, but also has an effect on the animals themselves, their productivity and welfare.
“During a campaign in this year’s spring lambing season we discovered that, in nearly three quarters of livestock worrying cases, the offending dog was local to that area, with more than half of all incidents involving a dog roaming free and where no owner or responsible person was present.
“The partners involved in this initiative are also encouraging farmers to help educate dog owners and dog walkers and prevent incidents occurring. We are encouraging farmers and landowners to engage with dog walkers and to help by putting up signs up on gateways and on key roads and paths alerting them to the presence of sheep and other livestock in their fields," added inspector Donaldson.
Farmers and those who use the countryside are urged to report all incidents of livestock worrying to police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
“Police Scotland will robustly enforce the existing legislation, ensuring all reported cases of livestock being attacked by dogs are thoroughly investigated and offenders reported to the Procurator Fiscal,” added inspector Donaldson.
NFUS policy manager Gemma Cooper added: "NFUS is pleased to see this initiative, as it is a cause which it has been championing for some time now. Instances of dog worrying are never acceptable; they cause our farmers personal heartache, and often substantial and ongoing financial loss. It is disappointing that instances are still high in number.
"We would urge farmers affected by this issue to ensure that they report this via 101 as this will help ensure that the multi organisation momentum that has been ongoing for some time now is kept up. In addition, we would urge local authorities to use dog control notices more frequently, as this option can be very effective, but is currently quite underutilised as a method of dealing with this problem."
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