Dogs were responsible for more than 300 attacks on farm livestock in Wales, figures uncovered by Conservative AM Antoinette Sandbach show.
With lambing season now in full swing, and more dog owners set to take to the paths and by-ways of rural Wales during the Easter holiday break, she is urging people to ensure their pets are kept under control at all times.
The North Wales AM is also calling on farmers to report all livestock attacks to the police, as she believes that many fail to do so because they do not trust the dogs will ever be traced.
“As a dog owner myself, I know that dogs love to be off the lead and to run free to explore by themselves. But the countryside is not just for pleasure – it’s a working environment and right now is an extremely important time of year for farmers.
“Lambs are now out in the fields with their mums, while many farmers have just put out dairy cattle and calves onto fresh grass, after a long winter indoors.
“But these animals are vulnerable to attacks by dogs, such as when the animal mauls a lamb or calf, while a pregnant sheep or cow can lose their unborn baby when they’re chased by dogs.
“When there are several dogs, they turn into a pack and can be very hard to control – so it’s easier not to let them off the lead at all.”
Ms Sandbach wrote to all of Wales’ 22 county councils, along with the three police forces, under the Freedom of Information Act asking each of them to provide a breakdown of dog attacks by county. She also asked the National Park Authorities to provide figures but they were not able to supply the information.
Powys had the most dog attacks, with a total of 93 attacks from January 2011 to December 2013, followed by Pembrokeshire at 45.
In North Wales there were just 25 in three years across the six counties – with nine in Conwy, six in Denbighshire and Flintshire, two in Wrexham, and one each in Gwynedd and Anglesey.
No attacks were recorded in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire or Neath Port Talbot, while Rhondda had two, Newport six, Bridgend nine and Ceredigion 10.
“I was surprised by the figures for some areas, as I constantly hear from farmers about their concerns over sheep worrying,” said Ms Sandbach.
“I always urge them to report matters to the police, and I would ask the two farming unions to press members to ensure they report all attacks, so we can build a full picture of what is happening in our fields.
“It may be that some farmers do not trust that their concerns will be dealt with swiftly, but in my discussions with North Wales Police Commissioner Winston Roddick, he is very firm that crimes in rural areas should be treated seriously – and a dog attacking on livestock is most definitely a crime. I am sure that Mr Roddick’s fellow Commissioners in South Wales and Dyfed-Powys would share his views.”
