Witness appeal after sheep killed in Newport livestock worrying incidents

Sheep have been killed as a result of dogs running off leads in a field on the Isle of Wight, and we are asking people to please keep their pets on a lead around livestock, and report any information to us around livestock worrying.

On the afternoon of Sunday 24 November, sheep were chased by a dog in the fields off Worsley Road, Newport, with one fleeing through a boundary fence and running off towards Hunnyhill.

Three of the sheep involved in this incident died as a result of stress.

Then on Thursday 28 November, at around 12.50pm, sheep were chased by a dog in the same field off Worsley Road again, and one of the sheep was later found wandering in a brook. None of the sheep were reported injured or killed on this occasion.

We are appealing for anyone with information about these two incidents specifically, or concerns around livestock worrying in this area to please contact police on 101, quoting 44240511747.

We also call on dog owners to be aware of ‘Operation Recall’ – this was implemented last year, with national animal welfare charities, including Naturewatch Foundation and the RSPCA, joining forces with police and the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to raise awareness and help tackle issues of livestock worrying.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary adopted Op Recall this year to ensure we are all doing what we can to keep our family pets safe, as well as livestock.

Livestock worrying is when a dog attacks or chases livestock on agricultural land or is at large in a field with livestock, which can result in significant injury or suffering and in the worst cases, death of the animals involved. This also has devastating consequences for livestock keepers, causing personal distress as well as significant financial costs.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, it is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock and dog owners risk prosecution.

We recognise that the majority of dog owners walk their pets in a responsible manner, but unfortunately there are a small minority whose recklessness puts the welfare of other animals at risk.

Some key points to bear in mind to help with the welfare of livestock and your dog:

• It is so important to keep dogs either on leads or under close control around livestock.
• If you are walking your dog in a field and there is no livestock, please keep the dog in sight at all times, be aware of what it is doing, and be confident it will return to you promptly on command. If you cannot be confident of this, the dog should not be off the lead.
• Ensure the dog does not stray off the path or area where you have right of access.
• It is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock. We want owners to be aware that in such instances, the owner or person in control of the dog can be prosecuted, and as a last resort the dog can be shot by the farmer to end an attack.

Remember – protect your dog and protect livestock. It is your responsibility as an owner to keep your dog safe and keep your dog on a lead.

For more information on Operation Recall, visit: https://naturewatch.org/campaigns/operation-recall/