With Easter set to see an increase in visitors to the countryside, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Mutual is reminding dog owners in Scotland to be extra vigilant at a time when sheep and lambs are at their most vulnerable.
The warning comes as Scottish farm animals worth an estimated £123,000 were severely injured or killed in Scotland last year (2023), more than double the 2022 cost, latest figures from NFU Mutual reveal.
Across the UK, the estimated cost of livestock worrying soared by nearly 30% to £2.4 million last year.
NFU Mutual’s recent survey of over 1,100 dog owners found more people were letting their dogs off leads in the countryside last year than in 2022, 68% and 64% respectively.
Almost eight percent admitted their dog chases livestock, but 46% believed their dog was not capable of causing the death or injury of farm animals.
NFU Mutual
Manager for Scotland at NFU Mutual, Martin Malone, said: “The Easter holidays is a great opportunity to explore Scotland’s countryside, but people must remember these idyllic rural destinations are working environments, key to farmers’ livelihoods and home to millions of sheep and new-born lambs.
“This year’s lambing season is well underway across Scotland, and farmers and crofters are understandably worried that an influx of out of control dogs this Easter could cause unnecessary carnage to newborn lambs out in the fields with their mothers for the first time.”
NFU Scotland policy advisor for rural business, Rhianna Montgomery highlighted the fact that it is now lambing season, meaning it’s a particularly vulnerable time for livestock, and to “avoid livestock where possible, if you come across sheep with or without lambs, ensure your dog is on a lead as this is where you have the most control”.
Inspector Jordan Low of Police Scotland said that: “Livestock worrying is a crime. It is the dog owner’s responsibility to ensure their dog is on a lead and under control when livestock is present. Failure to do so can result in a £40,000 fine or a 12-month prison sentence.”
Advice for dog owners:
- Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept;
- Be aware that all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals;
- Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers;
- Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby.
