Lambing Season – Important Notice to Dog Owners

🐑 Lambing Season – Important Notice to Dog Owners

We’ve been visiting farmers and rural businesses across the area this week, putting up new signage to raise awareness around livestock worrying and to help keep our farming communities safe.

As lambing season approaches, we are reminding all dog owners of their responsibility to help protect our rural communities. Sheep worrying remains a significant and recurring issue in our area, leading to serious injury, the loss of livestock, and considerable emotional and financial impact on local farmers.

To prevent further incidents, we ask all dog walkers to strictly follow the guidance below:

🔹Keep your dog on a lead when walking near livestock
Even well‑trained dogs can act unpredictably when their instincts take over.

🔹Remain on marked footpaths and stay vigilant
Sheep may be present in fields even when not immediately visible.

🔹Ensure gardens are secure if you live near farmland
Dogs escaping, particularly overnight, can cause extensive harm before being discovered.

Sheep worrying is a criminal offence. We will take positive and proportionate action against dog owners whose animals are found to have chased, harassed, or attacked livestock.

👩‍🌾 For livestock owners:
Please report all incidents of sheep worrying to us at the earliest opportunity. Prompt reporting allows us to gather evidence, identify animals involved, and take the necessary enforcement action.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to chat with us while we were out. Keeping our rural areas safe is a team effort, and we’re grateful for your support.

Stay safe, look after each other, and remember:
Keep dogs on leads around livestock. 🐕➡️🐑

PC Alex Prentice