WATCH: Police Back Campaign To Prevent Livestock Worrying

Sussex Police has shone the spotlight on livestock worrying in support of a national campaign to protect wildlife.

The force works with partners to provide education and engagement on the topic, which can have a “devastating” impact on the local community.

But by taking a few simple steps, dog owners can be responsible and prevent livestock worrying from happening in the first place.

Sergeant Tom Carter, of the Rural Crime Team, said:

“Livestock worrying has quite significant ramifications not just to the farming community, but to the community as a whole.

“Being a responsible dog owner is having the care to look after your dog and ensure that your dog doesn’t get into trouble or come to harm.

“Unfortunately, the ultimate thing that can happen with livestock worrying is if the dog can’t be stopped, then the farmer can shoot the dog, which is tragic, not just for the dog owner, but it’s tragic for the farmer too.”

This week, the National Sheep Association (NSA) launches its Sheep Worrying by Dogs Week.

Sussex Police officers recently met with the Ashdown Forest Conservators, the NSA and local farmers to share their concerns on the issue.

Anton, a local sheep farmer, said:

“It’s just devastating when you turn up and something’s dead or injured. Then you’ve got the impact of having to destroy that animal and it’s just awful all round really.”

His daughter Sophia added:

“It’s disheartening and it’s upsetting because you’ve put all this work in, and you’re building a flock and you’re trying to build a life for yourself, and you come across, a sheep that’s injured or dead, and you see all that hard work you’ve put in has been taken away in a split second by a careless dog owner.”

Kari Dunbar, of the Ashdown Forest Conservators, wants to highlight the effects of livestock worrying not only on sheep, cattle and ponies, which all graze on the heathland, but also the numerous ground-nesting birds that call the habitat their home, including skylarks, nightjars and Dartford warblers.

“Dogs enrich our lives in so many ways,” she said. “They can be a really good thing for conservation areas. But unfortunately, a lot of our wildlife see them as a threat. So if you’re out walking on Ashdown Forest, we just ask you please to keep your dogs on the paths, out of the heather and the gorse, or keep them on a lead if there’s livestock nearby.

“Education is key, and we have a lot of trainers on the forest who can help to ensure you have a happy, healthy, stress-free walk with your dog on Ashdown Forest.”

Nicola Noble, from the NSA, has also pleaded with dog owners to ‘take the lead’.

She said:

“Education is message when it comes to sheep worrying. Lots of people go out and about with their dogs and maybe they’re naïve to the fact that there are sheep or cattle or other livestock roaming the hills where they’re out with their dog, and they’re just not aware of the consequences and knock-on effects.

“I’ve heard incidences of farmers not wanting to leave the farm full stop because they’re so scared of finding another dead animal on their site because of a loose dog.

“So it’s getting those messages across to the general public that by simply putting your dog on a lead around sheep, you can remove the risk completely.”

Find out more about rural crime, and what you can do to help, here.