DOG owners are being warned to keep their pets are under control at all times when near farm animals.
It comes after new research by Stratford-based rural insurer NFU Mutual research found almost three quarters of dog owners now allowed their pets to roam off-lead in the countryside. This is despite around half saying their dog did not always come back when called.
The insurer estimates farm animals worth £242,000 were injured or killed by dogs in the Midlands last year, making it the second worst affected English region by cost after the South East (£266,000).
Rebecca Davidson, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Behind the figures, these horrific attacks are causing unbearable suffering to farm animals and anxiety for farmers as they deal with the aftermath.
“There’s a new generation of dog owners whose pandemic puppies are coming of age and they don’t know how their dog is going to behave around livestock.
“It’s hard for people to imagine that their affectionate, family pet could injure or kill another animal and it’s not only physical attacks that can harm livestock. Even if a small dog chases sheep and they don’t make contact, they can separate lambs from their mothers, or the distress and exhaustion from the chase can cause a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry.
“Livestock attacks can have a huge impact on farmers’ livelihoods. While insurance can cover the cost of replacing stock killed and the treatment of injured animals, there is a knock-on effect on breeding programmes that can take years to overcome.
“We want people to enjoy the countryside and recognise the huge benefit it brings to people’s wellbeing. We’re simply asking for people to keep their dogs under control and on a lead.”
With many dog owners planning to visit the countryside during coming weeks, as the weather improves and sheep are at their most vulnerable, NFU Mutual is calling for dog owners to:
* Keep dogs on the lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle
* Be aware that even small dogs can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals
* Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers
* Don’t let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby
