Distracted dog owners who believe their pets would never attack farm animals are putting sheep in Wales at risk of horrific and fatal injuries, new research from NFU Mutual reveals.

NFU Mutual’s latest survey of over 1,100 dog owners released this week found that despite 64 per cent of owners admitting their dogs chase animals, almost half (46 per cent) believe their dog was not capable of injuring or killing livestock.

Many dog owners are unaware that even if their pet doesn’t make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion caused by being chased can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry.

Young lambs can also become separated from their mothers.

Nearly two thirds of owners (64 per cent) say they let their dog roam off-lead in the countryside. However, almost four in ten (39 per cent) admit that their pets do not always come back when called.

The harsh reality of some dog owners’ failure to control their pets is evident in the latest figures based on claims data from NFU Mutual.

The rural insurer estimates farm animals worth £438,536 were severely injured or killed by dogs in Wales in 2022, a rise of 15.5% in cost compared to 2021.

Across the UK, dog attacks on farm animals cost an estimated £1.8m last year.

Owen Suckley, NFU Mutual Wales Manager, said: “It’s clear that a significant number of dog owners are blinded by their love for their pets and believe that they would never chase, attack or kill livestock.

“We’ve heard reports from farmers that dog walkers are becoming more distracted, often on their mobile phones with their pets out of sight and are seemingly unaware of the carnage their dog could cause.

“The COVID-19 pandemic saw a boom in dog ownership as many people purchased puppies for the first time, yet these may not have been trained properly or be familiar with farm animals.

“It is concerning that these now fully-grown dogs will be visiting farmland as we get into spring at a time when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable.

“Farmers near cities, towns and tourist areas are also living in fear of repeat attacks, which cause horrific suffering to sheep and can also traumatise families as they deal with the aftermath.

“That is why we are calling for dog owners to be responsible and accept their pets, however friendly, are capable of chasing and attacking farm animals and should be kept on a lead when walked anywhere near livestock.”

Rob Taylor, Wales Rural and Wildlife Police Crime Coordinator and NPCC Livestock lead, added: “Irresponsible dog ownership is the simple fact why these attacks continue to occur across the UK on a daily basis, whether it’s leaving your pet alone and insecure at home or in a garden or not using a lead when near livestock.

“The results are barbaric, whether the attacked animal dies horrifically at the scene, later from stress or aborts its unborn lamb.

“Over the past years we have witnessed many new dedicated police rural crime teams being established across the UK, who receive full training and understand the issues associated with an attack, however we cannot stop there and as well as raising awareness of the problem we are seeking a new law, which is currently passing through Parliament.

“This will provide police with better powers of investigation and also provide the courts with the power to put in place dog ownership bans for those who don’t listen and allow their dog to conduct such preventable attacks in our countryside.”

With many dog owners planning to visit the countryside as the weather improves and at a time when sheep are at their most vulnerable, NFU Mutual is calling for them to:

• Keep dogs on a lead when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept but let go of the lead if chased by cattle

• Be aware that even small dogs can cause the distress, injury and death of farm animals

• Report attacks by dogs to the police or local farmers

• Never let dogs loose unsupervised in gardens near livestock fields – many attacks are caused by dogs which escape and attack sheep grazing nearby