I am horrified by the growing number of dog attacks on farm animals and believe more must be done to tackle this scourge on our countryside, which is costing British farming millions of pounds.
NFU Mutual estimate that the cost of dog attacks across the UK has risen by over £500,000 since 2020 to £1.8m. However, the real cost of these attacks is unquantifiable. Dog attacks cause unbearable suffering to farm animals as well as huge anxiety for the farmers who care for them.
For years the government has repeatedly promised action, but we are still waiting.
I am calling on lawmakers to urgently make a change to legislation as soon as possible. Specifically I would like to see:
- An increase in fines to act as an effective deterrent
- An increase in police powers to seize dogs
- An update to the list of farm animals included in the current definition to reflect what we see in fields today
- The law applied to all locations where farm animals are legally allowed to be, including roads and barns
Working together alongside responsible dog owners these measures will help make the countryside a safe place for farm animals and dog walkers.
By adding my name I am calling on the NFU to take this issue to the Defra Secretary of State as a matter of utmost importance.
