Four pregnant cows have died following a suspected dog chase in Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, Wales.
As a result of being chased the cows fell down a steep embankment and sustained “catastrophic injuries”, North Wales Police Rural Crime Team has said.
Police are appealing for any information on the incident, which took place between 3:00p.m last Wednesday (August 23) and 10:00a.m the following day (Thursday, August 24) in a field in Maenaddwyn, just outside Llannerchymedd.
“We are appealing for information after four cows have died following an incident in Anglesey,” the rural crime team said on Facebook.
“This incident will result in a significant financial loss to the farmer as well as the emotional impact of finding his stock in such terrible circumstances.
“If you have any information in relation to this incident or if you know that your dog had escaped during the time frame given and you believe they may have been responsible, please contact us on 101, or via the website, and quote reference number A135912.”
Livestock worrying
Rural insurer NFU Mutual estimates that dog attacks on farm animals across the UK cost £1.8 million last year.
In Wales, it estimates farm animals worth £438,536 were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2022, a rise of 15.5% in cost compared to 2021.
In a livestock worrying survey earlier this year, NFU Mutual also found that nearly two thirds of dog owners that responded said that their dogs chase animals.
The same amount of respondents (64%) said they also let their dog roam off-lead in the countryside, and 40% admitted that their pets do not always come back when called.
North Wales Police Rural Crime Team believes the Maenaddwyn incident is as a result of a “loose dog”.
However, almost half (46%) of respondents to the NFU Mutual survey believe their dogs are not capable of injuring or killing livestock.
