Cost of dog attacks in Scotland falls

It mirrors the UK trend which saw almost £1.8m of livestock injured or killed in these incidents, down 26 pe cent compared to 2023.

The data comes as NFU Mutual’s new survey of 1,136 dog owners released on Monday February 17 found 57 per cent let their dogs off lead in the countryside but, worryingly, only 40 per cent admitted their pet always comes back when recalled.

Forty-three per cent believed their dog was capable of causing the death or injury of livestock, up 11 per cent compared to the previous year’s survey.And if present at an attack, just over half would intervene to stop it, while 20 per cent would tell a local farmer and 17 per cent would call the police.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual’s Rural Affairs Specialist, said: “It is encouraging to see the estimated cost of livestock worrying fall in Scotland last year, following NFU Mutual campaigning alongside industry efforts to increase awareness among dog owners.

“But as lambing season gets underway, a time of year when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable, it is important that dog owners do not get complacent.

“Farmers across the UK are living in fear of repeat attacks, which cause horrific suffering to livestock and can traumatise all involved in dealing with the aftermath. 

“Anecdotally, we’ve heard of many incidents where dogs have injured and killed sheep, and the owner is powerless to stop it or is nowhere to be seen.

“Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to dog attacks on livestock; regardless of size, breed or temperament, all dogs are capable of chasing, injuring and killing farm animals. It is vital dog owners act responsibly and keep their pets on leads wherever livestock may be nearby to prevent these needless attacks.

“It is crucial people accept responsibility for their dog if there is an incident and report it to a local farmer and the police, so that any injured animals are not left suffering in pain.”

With many dog owners planning to visit the countryside at a time when sheep and lambs 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 all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, 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