Dogsey

There has been an increase in sheep worrying incidents in recent years. So much so that the largest farming paper, the Farmers Guardian, has started a campaign to educate dog owners about the risks to ewes, lambs and other livestock of having dogs off lead around them.

I personally think that there is a case for farmers to use lethal force, ie to shoot a dog worrying stock, if there is absolutely no other way of preventing the dog from continuing an attack. However, I do not agree with ordering a dog to be destroyed after the event. If the owner is caught and prosecuted, then I believe a hefty fine and being ordered to pay the value of the sheep who were killed/had to be put down would be appropriate, as well as an assurance that the dogs would be kept on leads and/or muzzled around livestock in the future or a stiffer penalty regarding the dogs would be considered.

I posted an article from the Farmers Guardian on the subject a couple of weeks ago

Farmers Guardian spreads Take the Lead message at Just Dogs Live