Farmer issues pet lead plea after sheep worrying

The National Sheep Association has launched its sheep worrying by dogs awareness week

A Surrey farmer has called for dog owners to "be responsible" with their pets and keep them on a lead to avoid sheep worrying.

Luke Smith, a sheep farmer in Dorking, said there had been 46 incidents at his farm last year, one of which led to the death of 27 sheep.

"Most were killed by the dogs to be honest, and then you end up with quite a few put down," he said.

"I think stress kills a lot of them more than anything else."

The farmer's flock has already been subject to sheep worrying by dogs three times this year, Mr Smith said.

"I think it's more the emotional and mental distress and carry on that is actually worse than the financial loss," he said.

"These sorts of things are unnecessary, but also avoidable if people were just more responsible.

"It is not necessarily the dogs that are the issue, it is the owners unfortunately."

While people claim their dogs are "only playing", Mr Smith added, "that alone frightens the sheep".

'Mutual respect'

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has launched its sheep worrying by dogs awareness week.

Katie James, of the NSA, said: "Although there is no formal obligation to log cases of sheep worrying to NSA or the police, it is something the association has always encouraged."

Livestock worrying is a criminal offence and farmers have the right to kill dogs that are worrying their livestock, according to Surrey Police.

But Mr Smith said farmers want to avoid that outcome.

He said: "As much as sheep are our pets and animals, their dogs are their pets and animals. There needs to be a mutual respect in the middle."