Latest news with #livestockworrying
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cheshire farmer backs change to policing rural dog attacks
A farmer whose animals have been attacked by dogs twice said he hoped a change in the law would help bring more offenders to justice. Phil Latham, from Cheshire, said he collected DNA and video footage after one attack but was told by the police it could not be South and Eddisbury MP Aphra Brandreth's bill would give police more powers to use such evidence and extend the offence of livestock worrying to cover animals such as Latham said the impact of dog attacks was "not just the money, but the heartache". Brandreth told BBC Politics North West the bill was about "responsible dog ownership", and it had been prompted by her meeting Mr Latham last Conservative MP's bill, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, will reach the next stage of the process in Parliament on will add to police powers around the seizure of dogs and collection of evidence from both dogs and livestock, and increase the maximum penalty from £1,000 to an unlimited NFU said UK farm animals worth £1.8m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks last year. Mr Latham said the first attack at his farm in Chornley, near Nantwich, 18 out of 20 calves in a pen were severely injured. He said the second attack had two vets and three members of staff working for five hours to treat the animals."The first thing you want to do is look after your animals. It's what we try to do."We're trying to optimise the calf welfare because if they're happy they grow better, and we're happy."So when you find that they've been severely bitten, bits of skin hanging off or muscles detached, that is really distressing."He said he was "incredibly frustrated" to learn the evidence he had gathered after the second attack could not be used in a prosecution."Those tests are good enough to put people away for life, but they're not good enough - or weren't - to allow to determine whether a dog had attacked a calf or not."It's quite simply ridiculous," he said. Brandreth said: "Phil showed me photos of a horrific dog attack. It was really awful to see the damage that they had caused."I realised it was an opportunity for me to try and make a difference for farmers like Phil and also animal welfare because it's so vitally important."Ms Brandreth said the bill had been worked on with MPs across different parties and also Welsh MPs. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dog attack on Dorking farm sparks plea for lead usage
A dog attack which left a number of lambs seriously injured has sparked a warning from Surrey's deputy police and crime commissioner.A lamb had its top lip torn away in the attack earlier this month at a farm in Dorking, which previously lost almost 30 sheep in a single visiting the farm, Surrey DPCC Ellie Vesey-Thompson urged dog owners to keep pets on leads."Surrey is home to many responsible dog-owners who deeply cherish their pets. But even the most trusted of dogs can behave in surprising or shocking ways," she said. Vesey-Thompson warned of the "traumatising" effects of livestock worrying, which is a criminal offence in the UK and includes barking, chasing, biting and said: "While I'm pleased that the lamb is recovering well, others that were more seriously hurt remain critically unwell, and, despite excellent care and treatment, sadly may not recover."This is an absolutely horrific incident that could so easily have been prevented by the simple action of putting a dog on a lead."The National Sheep Association (NSA) said it was also important to ensure dogs were secure in the home or garden."Dogs straying from their own homes is another common cause of devastating sheep worrying attacks, potentially leading to sheep prolonged suffering until the impact of the incident is discovered," a spokesperson said.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment two cuddly-looking spaniels turn savage and maul helpless lamb to death
This is the shocking moment two cuddly-looking spaniels savagely mauled a helpless lamb to death. The dogs, which on first glance look nothing like killer beasts, were caught on camera with blood on their mouths in North Wales. They escaped from a walk along Dinas Dinlle beach in Penygroes and ran into a field to attack sheep on April 23. A young lamb was seriously injured by the spaniels and subsequently died, police have said. The horrifying attack was recorded by a farmer who was in the area at the time and alerted the owner of the sheep, Dafydd Jones. The distressing footage shows two dogs mauling the lamb, before running away from the farmer who tries to put them on a lead. Police have now warned pet owners that any dog could turn into a killer. PCSO Rhys Evans, from North Wales Police's rural crime team, said: 'Responsible dog ownership is key in tackling these awful incidents, which are far too common. 'Livestock-worrying is a crime, and can include dogs running after animals, as well as attacks. 'They are extremely distressing not only for the animals, but for their keepers too and the costs, both financially and emotionally are wholly unacceptable. 'It is important to ensure dogs are always kept on a lead and under control in the countryside - or if left at home alone, that the house or garden are secure. 'A dog's owner is the only person who can prevent an attack from happening, and you may have to pay the ultimate price if you cannot control your animal. 'If your dog has escaped in a rural area, you should contact the police as early as possible so local farmers and landowners can be alerted.' The sheep's owner Dafydd Jones added: 'The dogs fled from the beach and ran into the fields at Belan Las, and injured sheep. 'The matter has now been resolved, thanks to North Wales Police and Hedd Rhys from Farmer Union of Wales.'
