Dog scheme hopes to reduce livestock attacks
A prolonged wet winter and an unseasonably cold start to 2013 has left many farmers facing significant financial problems and now, with the lambing season underway, farmers face another threat to their flocks - attacks by domestic dogs.
And it's not just sheep that are at risk of being chased or attacked by dogs who are out of control, according to statistics from The British Horse Society, the number of horses being attacked by dogs (some as small as miniature dachshunds) is also growing at an alarming rate.
To help alleviate the problem and raise awareness amongst dog owners, NFU Mutual, The British Horse Society and ACPO are helping to pilot a solution.
Led by PC Keith Evans, Dog Legislation Officer for West Midland's police, the programme will deliver a number of puppy socialisation courses at farms across the UK and will see puppies introduced to farm livestock and horses at an early age, in a bid to reduce their fear and aggression towards livestock they may meet when out walking in the countryside in later life.
The programme also seeks to educate dog owners and help those with older dogs de-sensitise their animals and manage difficult situations whilst out walking.
"Talking to farmers and horse owners, we know there is increasing concern about dog attacks in the countryside" said Nicki Whittaker, an equine specialist at NFU Mutual.
"Most dog owners are very responsible and keep their animal on a lead around horses and livestock; however, some dogs may never have encountered sheep or horses before and may chase or attack them, resulting in death or injury.
"The countryside is a wonderful environment in which to walk your dog but it's important to remember that it’s a shared space and everyone has to play their part to ensure that it remains a safe and enjoyable place for people to live, work and enjoy their leisure pursuits."
At a recent meeting of equine insurers hosted by NFU Mutual at The Farmers’ Club in London, representatives agreed that they would encourage customers involved in such incidents to record their experiences on the British Horse Society’s Horse Accident website, which to date has received 415 reports since it was launched in November 2010.
Compulsory micro-chipping for all dogs from 2016 and extending the law to cover dog attacks which occur on private property, as well as public spaces, are just two measures which have been introduced by the Government to try and tackle the problem.
Speaking about the problem, Tim Price, a Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual said: "In 2011 there were almost 700 cases of sheep worrying in the UK and NFU Mutual estimates the cost of sheep worrying to be in the region of £1 million.
"Add to this the number of injuries to horses attacked or frightened by dogs and subsequent injuries to riders who have been thrown from their horses and the scale of the problem in the countryside becomes clear."
Sheila Hardy, Senior Executive in the Safety Department at The British Horse Society said: "Dog attacks on horses are the fastest growing category of incidents being reported through our horse accidents website and the most common after road accidents. This is a worrying trend and we urgently need to educate both dog and horse owners about the problem.
"The consequences of these incidents can be particularly nasty with serious injuries being caused to both riders and horses. Dogs can also be injured and even killed," she added.
