Control dogs around livestock, says Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust is urging owners to control their dogs around livestock, warning that it is a criminal offence to allow a dog to chase or attack livestock on agricultural land.

Farmers are permitted to destroy any dog that injures or worries their livestock by law, so Dogs Trust is raising awareness that allowing a dog to be in a field with livestock may constitute an offence of worrying.

In order to prevent the worst from happening, the charity has released advice for walking dogs in the countryside.

• Always keep your dog on a lead and away from livestock.
• Take extra care during lambing/calving season (particularly January – April) to minimise the risk of disturbing farm animals.
• Make sure your home and garden is secure at all times when your dog is unsupervised, so that he does not stray and worry neighbouring livestock.
• Make sure your dog is well trained and obedient to your commands.
• As a general rule, keep your dog on a lead on public paths if you cannot rely on its obedience.
• By law, you must control your dog so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals. You must keep your dog on a short lead (extendible leads are not ideal) in most areas of open country and common land between March 1 and July 31, and at all times near farm animals on agricultural land.
• Be careful in situations where you may unintentionally be 'herding' cattle or sheep into a confined space where their only means of escape is to charge towards you.
• Leave all gates as you found them.
• If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – the dog is likely to out run you to safety so don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.
• Do not pass between a cow or sheep and it’s young as they may act more aggressively whilst protecting their young.

Dogs Trust says: "There are few past times more enjoyable for dog owners than a walk with their dog in the beautiful British countryside. However, Dogs Trust would like to remind dog owners to be cautious and keep their dogs under close control to ensure they do not worry livestock or stray onto neighbouring land.

"Dogs Trust believes that shooting an intruding dog is a distressing event with devastating consequences for the owner. We would urge anyone who experiences a straying dog to speak with the owner and find a humane solution."