In a joint message, the Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria Police, National Farmers’ Union and National Trust are urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads ahead of the Easter holidays.
Sheep worrying is a criminal offence, with 50 dog attack incidents reported to Cumbria Constabulary each year.
Sergeant Amanda McKirdy from Cumbria Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “As well as the injury and suffering inflicted upon the animals, it can cause huge financial cost to the farmer and ultimately lead to prosecution of the owner or person in control of the dog at the time.
“We would urge people to take steps to keep their dogs under control near livestock, using a lead in areas near livestock and keeping a distance.”
Lake District National Park Farming Officer, Eliza Hodgson, said: “We are now into lambing season in the Lake District and ewes are either caring for young lambs or at critical points in their pregnancies. The shock of a dog scare can be fatal to unborn lambs, causing immense distress to both sheep and farmers.”
“We are also seeing the return of ground nesting birds like lapwings, curlews and skylarks to the Lake District. For their safety, please always keep your dog under close control and on a lead near livestock.”
Andrea Meanwell runs a farm in the Howgills and works as the Lakes Future Farming Partnerships Manager for the National Trust. She said: “Even if a field looks empty as you walk through the gate, sheep and lambs can suddenly appear in a dip or behind a wall, so it’s not worth risking your dog off the lead at any time of the year.”
NFU Cumbria Chair John Longmire said: “There was a big rise in dog ownership in lockdown and many people don’t understand what can happen in the countryside when they don’t have control of their dogs. Sadly, the situation has been getting worse.
“It does have a financial impact on the business, but the animal welfare issue is the main concern. It is really awful to see the animals suffer in this way, and it is upsetting for the pet owners who just didn’t expect their dog was capable of such things.
“At this time of year many ewes are lambing, and these sheep and offspring are highly vulnerable, and we have an individual and community responsibility to ensure that we all get to enjoy our countryside without causing distress and harm to livestock.”
