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Members of the public have been urged by police and farming unions to keep their dogs on leads as farmers continue to suffer the financial and emotional effects of livestock worrying.

Ninety five per cent of sheep farmers have experienced a dog attack on their farm in the past 18 months, with 49 per cent of incidents proving fatal, a survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA) has revealed. 

Police forces recorded fewer instances of dog attacks on sheep in 2019 than on the previous year, the first decrease since 2012. 

Walkers who are not familiar with the countryside and have descended on the countryside during the coronavirus lockdown are thought to behind a rise in the number of dog attacks on livestock.

Íæż½ã½ã has long campaigned for a change in the law around livestock worrying and, therefore, it is encouraging to see progress being made in Scotland with the introduction of the Livestock Worrying - Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Police have warned the public it is an offence to ‘worry livestock’ and the farmer has the power to shoot or injure a dog to protect stock after two cow chasing incidents in the South West.

Two sheep have died, with 20 left seriously injured, in a dog attack on a sheep flock in Essex, prompting an NFU appeal to dog owners.

Using DNA to identify rogue dogs worrying sheep is being considered in a major crackdown to protect moorland flocks.

Dog attacks on farm animals have cost the UK agricultural sector £1.2 million, according to a report by NFU Mutual.