Researchers call for changes to Scottish legislation to curb dog attacks

Researchers are calling for new changes to be made to Scottish legislation to help tackle livestock worrying, including increased fines and improved guidance for the public.

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) says the Scottish government must review the wording of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) to reduce ambiguity and improve clarity.

This includes removing the option of keeping a dog under ‘close control’ and using only the term ‘keeping it on a short lead’.

The new report suggests creating an easy-to-read version of the SOAC with less text and more images to increase overall engagement and comprehension.