Farmers in plea to dog owners as lambing season gets underway - The Solihull Observer

Farmers in plea to dog owners as lambing season gets underway

Solihull Editorial 6th Mar, 2022   0

NFU Mutual is calling for dog owners to ensure their pets are under control at all times as the lambing season gets underway on farms across the region.

Research from the company found almost three quarters of dog owners (73 per cent) now allow their pets to roam off-lead in the countryside – up from (64 per cent) a year ago.

This is despite around half saying their dog doesn’t always come back when called.

The leading rural insurer estimates that farm animals worth £242,000 were injured or killed by dogs in the Midlands last year, making it the second worst affected English region by cost after the South East (£266,000).




NFU Mutual is calling for dog owners to:

Keep dogs on the 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

Don’t let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Solihull Observer.

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Solihull Observer newspaper.