New figures released yesterday, (7 February), show NFU Mutual’s latest survey of over 1,100 dog owners found that despite 64% of owners admitting their dogs chase animals, 46% believe their dog is not capable of injuring or killing livestock.

Yet, latest estimates based on claims data from NFU Mutual show South West farm animals worth £273,429 were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2022, making it the second worst affected region by cost in England. The Midlands was the worst hit region, with dog attacks on livestock costing an estimated £313,000.

Across the UK, dog attacks on farm animals cost an estimated £1.8 million in 2022.

“It’s clear that a significant number of dog owners are blinded by their love for their pets and believe that they would never chase, attack or kill livestock,” said Phoebe Ridley, from NFU Mutual South West.

“We’ve heard reports from farmers that dog walkers are becoming more distracted, often on their mobile phones with their pets out of sight, and seemingly unaware of the carnage their dog could cause.

“The Covid-19 pandemic saw a boom in dog ownership as many people purchased puppies for the first time, yet these may not have been trained properly or be familiar with farm animals.

“It is concerning that these now fully-grown dogs will be visiting farmland as we get into spring at a time when pregnant ewes and new-born lambs are vulnerable.

“Farmers near cities, towns and our many tourist areas are also living in fear of repeat attacks, which cause horrific suffering to sheep and can also traumatise their families as they deal with the aftermath.

“That is why we are calling for dog owners to be responsible and accept their pets, however friendly, are capable of chasing and attacking farm animals and should be kept on a lead when walked anywhere near livestock.”

Nearly two thirds of owners (64%) say they let their dog roam off-lead in the countryside. However, almost 39% admit that their pets do not always come back when called.

Even if a dog doesn’t make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion caused by being chased can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry. Young lambs can also become separated from their mothers.

When North Dorset farmer Alison Johnson discovered one of her steers lying dead with his leg caught in the fence, it bore all the hallmarks of a livestock-worrying incident.

Over the last 10 years, dogs have also attacked a number of her sheep at the 250-acre farm, leaving them dead or seriously injured.

Alison, who runs the farm consisting of 60 suckler cows and 600 sheep with her husband Ben, came across the 21-month-old Aberdeen Angus cross one morning while carrying out her daily checks on the herd in August last year.

“The cow was lying upside down and was still warm, so he had only been chased in the previous couple of hours,” said Alison.

“The likelihood is that the steer had been chased down the hill, lost its footing and rolled into the fence at the bottom getting his rear leg caught.”

Alison alerted the police and reported the attack to the local rural crime officer.

She also informed her local NFU Mutual Agent who helped support the family in the aftermath of the incident.

In the past Alison had had numerous sheep attacked by dogs, and an incident 10 years ago saw one sheep’s ears bitten off. It managed to survive and is still part of Alison’s flock today.

Alison says that, in her experience, appeals to pet owners to keep their animals under control are often ignored.

“Most people just don’t see what the problem is and usually say their dog would never do something like that,” she said.

“The general public do not take it seriously when asked to control their dogs, they don’t understand this is our livelihood and the financial and mental impact this has.”

With many dog owners planning to visit the South West’s countryside as the weather improves and at a time when sheep are at their most vulnerable, NFU Mutual is calling for them to:

• Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle
• Be aware that even small dogs 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.