Farmers call for Government action on dog control
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) says that a new Protection of Livestock (Scotland) Bill is being proposed for Scotland which would see an increase in penalties for offenders and additional powers to investigate and enforce the offense of livestock attacks.
And they want tougher action in Wales following a start to Spring that has seen numerous attacks recorded during the lambing season.
“Whilst the FUW would not want to mirror all elements of the proposed Bill in Scotland, the creation of this Bill represents a significant and positive shift change in the way that this type of crime is viewed, enforced and punished,” said Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer. “It is imperative that Wales follows Scotland in viewing dog attacks as a serious crime.
“There is growing frustration and anger amongst our membership that very little can be done to protect the livestock sector from dog attacks. Educational campaigns alone will fail to make any significant in-roads and the FUW is therefore calling for legislative changes that will provide police forces with more powers to obtain evidence for prosecution, seize dogs, ban offenders from keeping dogs and have dangerous dogs destroyed.”
Amongst the legislative changes advocated by the FUW are the call for an expanded definition of livestock, powers to allow police to collect DNA samples from suspect dogs, responsibility under law for a dog owner to report an attack and tougher penalties for offenders.
“Today, April 3, represents yet another day where a farm business has lost a significant number of sheep to a dog attack and the fines levied on offenders must therefore be proportionate to the losses incurred on the farm business. It is for this reason that the FUW is calling for changes to the current limited and outdated fines,” Dr Hazel added.
“Most members of the public are able to use the countryside without incident. However, where dog attacks do occur, farmers should be able to rely on the legal system to protect their livelihoods and safeguard their business by acting as a proper deterrent. It is essential that positive legislative changes are made to help safeguard both dog and livestock welfare in Wales” said Dr Wright.
The FUW is calling for:
· Mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces.
· A wider definition of ‘livestock’ as certain animals, such as deer, llamas and alpacas, are not covered by the 1953 act.
· Tougher penalties for offenders - currently livestock attacks carry a maximum non imprisonable offense with a maximum fine of up to £1000.
· Fines levied on offenders that are proportionate and allow for full compensation of losses incurred.
· Police forces granted the power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs
· Powers to confiscate dogs.
· Legal responsibility for dog owner to report attack to prevent badly injured sheep being left to suffer
· Power to ban an owner from owning another dog.
· Powers of dog destruction after conviction.
· A change to the definition of ‘arable land’ as attacks are not covered by legislation if a farmer is moving sheep between fields on a public highway.
· A proper definition of ‘under close control’ as it applies to dogs being walked near livestock.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) says that a new Protection of Livestock (Scotland) Bill is being proposed for Scotland which would see an increase in penalties for offenders and additional powers to investigate and enforce the offense of livestock attacks.
And they want tougher action in Wales following a start to Spring that has seen numerous attacks recorded during the lambing season.
“Whilst the FUW would not want to mirror all elements of the proposed Bill in Scotland, the creation of this Bill represents a significant and positive shift change in the way that this type of crime is viewed, enforced and punished,” said Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer. “It is imperative that Wales follows Scotland in viewing dog attacks as a serious crime.
“There is growing frustration and anger amongst our membership that very little can be done to protect the livestock sector from dog attacks. Educational campaigns alone will fail to make any significant in-roads and the FUW is therefore calling for legislative changes that will provide police forces with more powers to obtain evidence for prosecution, seize dogs, ban offenders from keeping dogs and have dangerous dogs destroyed.”
Amongst the legislative changes advocated by the FUW are the call for an expanded definition of livestock, powers to allow police to collect DNA samples from suspect dogs, responsibility under law for a dog owner to report an attack and tougher penalties for offenders.
“Today, April 3, represents yet another day where a farm business has lost a significant number of sheep to a dog attack and the fines levied on offenders must therefore be proportionate to the losses incurred on the farm business. It is for this reason that the FUW is calling for changes to the current limited and outdated fines,” Dr Hazel added.
“Most members of the public are able to use the countryside without incident. However, where dog attacks do occur, farmers should be able to rely on the legal system to protect their livelihoods and safeguard their business by acting as a proper deterrent. It is essential that positive legislative changes are made to help safeguard both dog and livestock welfare in Wales” said Dr Wright.
The FUW is calling for:
· Mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces.
· A wider definition of ‘livestock’ as certain animals, such as deer, llamas and alpacas, are not covered by the 1953 act.
· Tougher penalties for offenders - currently livestock attacks carry a maximum non imprisonable offense with a maximum fine of up to £1000.
· Fines levied on offenders that are proportionate and allow for full compensation of losses incurred.
· Police forces granted the power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs
· Powers to confiscate dogs.
· Legal responsibility for dog owner to report attack to prevent badly injured sheep being left to suffer
· Power to ban an owner from owning another dog.
· Powers of dog destruction after conviction.
· A change to the definition of ‘arable land’ as attacks are not covered by legislation if a farmer is moving sheep between fields on a public highway.
· A proper definition of ‘under close control’ as it applies to dogs being walked near livestock.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) says that a new Protection of Livestock (Scotland) Bill is being proposed for Scotland which would see an increase in penalties for offenders and additional powers to investigate and enforce the offense of livestock attacks.
And they want tougher action in Wales following a start to Spring that has seen numerous attacks recorded during the lambing season.
“Whilst the FUW would not want to mirror all elements of the proposed Bill in Scotland, the creation of this Bill represents a significant and positive shift change in the way that this type of crime is viewed, enforced and punished,” said Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer. “It is imperative that Wales follows Scotland in viewing dog attacks as a serious crime.
“There is growing frustration and anger amongst our membership that very little can be done to protect the livestock sector from dog attacks. Educational campaigns alone will fail to make any significant in-roads and the FUW is therefore calling for legislative changes that will provide police forces with more powers to obtain evidence for prosecution, seize dogs, ban offenders from keeping dogs and have dangerous dogs destroyed.”
Amongst the legislative changes advocated by the FUW are the call for an expanded definition of livestock, powers to allow police to collect DNA samples from suspect dogs, responsibility under law for a dog owner to report an attack and tougher penalties for offenders.
“Today, April 3, represents yet another day where a farm business has lost a significant number of sheep to a dog attack and the fines levied on offenders must therefore be proportionate to the losses incurred on the farm business. It is for this reason that the FUW is calling for changes to the current limited and outdated fines,” Dr Hazel added.
“Most members of the public are able to use the countryside without incident. However, where dog attacks do occur, farmers should be able to rely on the legal system to protect their livelihoods and safeguard their business by acting as a proper deterrent. It is essential that positive legislative changes are made to help safeguard both dog and livestock welfare in Wales” said Dr Wright.
The FUW is calling for:
· Mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces.
· A wider definition of ‘livestock’ as certain animals, such as deer, llamas and alpacas, are not covered by the 1953 act.
· Tougher penalties for offenders - currently livestock attacks carry a maximum non imprisonable offense with a maximum fine of up to £1000.
· Fines levied on offenders that are proportionate and allow for full compensation of losses incurred.
· Police forces granted the power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs
· Powers to confiscate dogs.
· Legal responsibility for dog owner to report attack to prevent badly injured sheep being left to suffer
· Power to ban an owner from owning another dog.
· Powers of dog destruction after conviction.
· A change to the definition of ‘arable land’ as attacks are not covered by legislation if a farmer is moving sheep between fields on a public highway.
· A proper definition of ‘under close control’ as it applies to dogs being walked near livestock.
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