Cost of Dog Attacks on Scotland’s Farm Animals Has Doubled, Figures Reveal

Omar Malik

29/02/24

(Image Credit: Donald Macsween)

The cost of dog attacks on Scotland’s livestock doubled to £123,000 last year, new statistics have revealed.

The findings come following last week’s release of a survey of more than 1,100 dog owners by farming insurer NFU Mutual.

As more young Scots take up crofting as a lifestyle and occupation, they face imminent financial difficulties with the rising attacks on livestock over the past year.

In 2021, the Scottish Parliament passed an Act that increased penalties issued to dog owners whose pets attack farm animals - otherwise known as worrying - in which they could face a £40,000 fine or 12-months imprisonment.

But the recent survey shows that the enactment of worrying as a criminal offence has not deterred cases - with 8% of dog owners saying their pet chases livestock.

The survey also revealed that, in 2023, 68% of dog owners took their pets off leads in the countryside. To combat the impact that worrying has both on farmers’ livelihoods and animal wellbeing, NFU Mutual urges dog walkers in rural areas to keep pets on leads.

(Image Credit: NFU Mutual)

Fewer than half of dog owners told NFU Mutual that their pet would always return to them following their call - as Scotland sees a rise in the number of dogs attacking livestock.

While 46% of owners said their dog was unable to inflict death or serious injury onto farm animals, a substantial 54% of respondents did not feel obliged to actively prevent their pet from chasing livestock.

A high proportion of dog owners (57%) said they would actively try to stop an attack. Yet only 22% would inform a local farmer of the incident - while even less (11%) would phone the police.

The severity of livestock worrying is underestimated by dog walkers who are less accustomed to the countryside, says Isle of Lewis crofter Donald Macsween: “there’s a clear urban-rural divide, and quite often people don’t think their dog is going to do anything.”

(Image Credit: Donald Macsween)

Though he agrees that direct attacks on livestock are catastrophic for farming businesses, Macsween urges dog owners to consider issues that can arise even from non-violent and well-trained dogs.

The Lewis-based crofter told Blether Magazine of the disruption and potential devastation that can occur during lambing season should sheep flee after encountering a dog: “If the sheep haven’t had lambs yet, they could end up aborting those lambs. If they have had their lambs, the lambs could die because their mum can’t find them.”

Macsween encourages dog owners to contact the police immediately if a case of worrying takes place: “When a dog attacked some older lambs, the police got involved and there were no animals that were killed.”

To ensure a safe environment for livestock - especially in the run-up to lambing season - NFU Mutual strongly advises dog walkers in the countryside to abide by the following rules:

Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle.
Be aware that all dogs, regardless of size, breed, and temperament, can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals.
Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers.
Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby.