Sheep attacks continue: but new laws on the way

Monday 12 March 2018

Another video of livestock injured by dogs has been posted on Facebook - the third recorded attack of its kind this year.

This comes as the latest in a series of these attacks where out-of-control dogs off their leads have suddenly attacked sheep while they were grazing land.

Islanders have been up in arms over the graphic images that have been shown on Facebook, detailing bloodied and injured sheep, calling for both stricter control on dog and dog walkers, and also better protection for the livestock.

David Chamberlain, the States Veterinary Officer, has said there has been at least three verifiable dog attacks on sheep "this year alone".

"In all the cases the attacks occurred on the land where the owner was keeping their animals. We know the names and addresses of the dog owners in two of the incidents. The Dogs (Liability for Injury and Protection of Livestock) Ordinance, 1982 allows the owner of livestock to protect them against a dog that is worrying them on land that they occupy when the dog is not under the control of its owner," Mr Chamberlain said.

"In reality this law provides a keeper who kills or injures a dog which is worrying their livestock some defence against any civil proceedings brought by the dog owner against them.  This law does not guarantee the livestock keeper compensation for any losses that are the result of a dog attack. 

"This is why in the UK five Police Constabularies are seeking to establish new laws and a dog DNA database to help them catch animals responsible for livestock attacks. The proposed new law would empower the Police to raid people’s homes and confiscate dogs who repeatedly attack and worry livestock."

Above: the latest of the reports of dog attacks on local livestock:

Previously sheep have also been chased off of cliffs on the south coast and have needed rescuing following the incident.

"Guernsey is an urban or suburban environment where space is at a premium.  Farming and leisure pursuits occur side by side and in addition fields are small.  The consequence is that dog walkers will encounter livestock and if dogs are off the leash and have poor or unreliable recall they may chase livestock whose escape is hampered by small filed sizes," Mr Chamberlain continued.

"We cannot be certain but there are likely to be many more dogs than there are sheep, goats & free-range poultry on the Island making dog-livestock encounters very likely.

"The Environment & Infrastructure Committee is already investigating the feasibility of a dog register which would include a DNA database.  I have encouraged livestock keepers to place signs near their livestock and I have encouraged dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash around livestock.  For those people who have livestock as pets we may need to consider livestock walking licences as is required in the UK.  This ensures that pet livestock do not come into contact with other livestock which is important from a biosecurity perspective but also we could consider livestock walking routes in areas where dogs are not allowed to avoid any encounters."

 If there is sufficient evidence dog attacks on livestock could be of interest to the Police.  The Summary Offences (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1982 makes it an offence for the owner or keeper of an animal to fail to restrain it from attacking or chasing another animal belonging to another person.

Pictured: One of the previous dog attacks on sheep left them stranded down a cliff face