Your City Council
ATTACKS ON LIVESTOCK
Sheep worrying is one of the most notorious and heinous crimes that a pet dog can commit. Sheep worrying and its rampant devastation will leave any dog owner numb. Could your dog, gentle and loyal, be capable of such cruel and vicious attacks?
Yes. Regardless of size, breed or temperament. ALL dogs post a potential danger to livestock. Regrettably it is part of a dog’s genetic make up to chase moving things, making all manner of things indiscriminate targets of a chase. Factors predisposing dogs to worry livestock include boredom, lack of socialisation or attention seeking methods.
Under the Dogs Order (NI) 1983 as amended by the Dangerous Dogs (NI) Order 1991 it is against the law for dogs to chase or attack livestock.
What happens to the dog that has sheep worried?
The law states:
Where a dog has attacked or killed livestock the court shall make an order directing the dog to be destroyed.
Where it appears to a court that a dog has chased livestock in such a way as might reasonably have been expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or to result in financial loss to the owner of the livestock the court shall:
- Make an order directing the dog to be destroyed; or
- Make an order directing the dog to be kept confined in a building, shed, yard or other enclosure from which it cannot escape.
By law a dog suspected of sheep worrying must be proven guilty beyond doubt before any destruction order is passed.
Farmer’s rights
The law presently states that if a dog is unaccompanied in a field with sheep, and without the landowner’s consent, farmers are legally protected in shooting the dog on the spot. Likewise, if all reasonable attempts to restrain the dog have been taken the farmer is equally justified in shooting the dog.
Heavy price to pay!
In rare cases a farmer may file a criminal prosecution; if the dog is proven guilty beyond doubt, a destruction order will be passed on the dog. The owner meanwhile, can be made to pay up to £5,000 compensation for each offence, as well as a fine of £200 and additional court costs.
Country Code of Practice
- When near livestock, hens, horses, sheep, cattle, ensure your dog is always on a lead or tied up.
- Never leave your dog unattended – as it only takes a matter of seconds for a fluffy sheep to wet his desire.
- Familiarise your dog to livestock before visiting rural, animal-populated areas.
- Train puppies at a young age (before 12 weeks of age) and allow them to socialise with other animal species to reduce the fascination and the tendency to chase later in life. Training in the six commands of basic obedience - stay, come, sit, heel, wait and down – will give you confidence that you will be able to control your dog.
- Reward your dog with a pat on the head or a special treat when he reacts mutely to livestock. Eventually the dog will recognise the link between the treat and good behaviour.
- Remain relaxed and nonplussed when your dog becomes excited around livestock; otherwise the dog will recognise it as an attention seeking technique.
- Be wary of your pet congregating with other dogs especially those roaming at will, as this encourages the resurgence of primitive instincts. A dog’s evolutionary schooling is based on the pack structure – hunting, chasing,barking and travelling in groups. Thus, when a dog is with its own sort it is more likely to return to ‘old’ habits.