PCC urges dog owners to help keep livestock safe this Spring

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Peter McCall, is urging dog owners to keep their dogs on leads in our rural areas this Spring to help reduce sheep worrying.

Sheep worrying is when, on agricultural land, a dog either attacks sheep, chases them in such a way as to likely cause injury, suffering or abortion of pregnant ewes.

Dog owners who are found by police allowing their dog to be off lead and worrying animals can face a fine up to £1000 and farmers are legally entitled to shoot dogs that are endangering their livestock.