Wyeth, who is one of the largest sheep farmers in Britain with 12,000 sheep across the south of England, has suffered more than most.
The start of lambing season has been fraught for farmer Gordon Wyeth due to attacks on his sheep by pet dogs. He estimates that the number of attacks has doubled since the start of lockdown. “We had a ram that was bitten through the throat and died, we had six lambs [killed], I think that was the next day. And then we had a husky chasing in-lamb ewes, the day after that. One ewe died after that one,” he said. “The problem is reaching epidemic proportions. It’s so much worse than it ever has been.”
But he added: “We’ve just started lambing so I take my gun with me. I can guarantee you, within the next two or three weeks, a dog will attack my sheep and I will shoot it.”
Dr Jenna Kiddie, head of canine behaviour at the Dogs Trust, warned all dog owners to be on their guard around the sight, sound, smell or even expectation of livestock.
An increase in dog ownership during the pandemic, especially among inexperienced dog owners, saw the cost of dog attacks on livestock rise 10% last year to £1.3m, according to research published by NFU Mutual.
Can you kick a dog if it attacks your dog?
Lean into a wall or even toss your dog into a fenced area if need be. Be aware that the attacking dog might be able to jump that fence. Do not kick or punch the dog if at all possible (that might escalate in their arousal). Once the attack is over, immediately get yourself, your dog or your child away.
What if my dog kills a livestock?
If a dog has killed livestock, the livestock owner may report the loss to the town’s chief administrative official within 24 hours, and the town must reimburse him (the law provides a process for determining the amount, with the burden of proof being on the person making the claim) for the estimated value of the …
‘We’ve got a cow to shoot next’: What death in farming really looks like | Human Animal
The law protects farmers who shoot dogs that are chasing livestock, and Wyeth has shot pet dogs in the past.