Campaign Urges Dog Owners To Keep Pets On Leads Around Farm Animals

A new campaign has been launched across Harborough urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads around livestock.

It follows an increase in incidents where farm animals have been attacked or spooked.

‘Livestock worrying’ is a criminal offence carrying a fine of up to £1,000 and under the law, a farmer has the right to shoot and kill a dog which is worrying livestock and cannot be controlled.

Harborough District Community Safety Partnership has launched the campaign, which is being supported by the National Farmers Union.

Cllr Simon Whelband, cabinet member for community safety, spoke to HFM:

Pic: NFU/ Toby Lea photography

Harriet Ranson is the county advisor for the NFU and is welcoming the launch of the campaign:

As well as livestock worrying, the campaign also highlights the dangers of dog fouling on farmland.

The NFU provides the following guidance on the dangers of dog fouling:

• Do not let your dog foul in fields and don’t leave poo bags on the ground/ tied to fences.
• Dog owners MUST bag and bin their dog’s poo – it carries a parasite called Neospora which causes abortions in farm animals.
• Bags left on the ground can be eaten by farm animals and cause them slow, painful deaths, or they can be bailed into silage and consumed that way.