Reminder for dog owners to keep pets on leads around livestock

Dog owners are being reminded of their responsibility to keep their pets under control around livestock.

The warning comes after a sheep was killed by a dog, described as a black Labrador, in Shenley Lane, in a field near the River Colne in London Colney, at 3.40pm on Wednesday (January 11).

PC Jules Richards from the Safer Neighbourhood Team has been working with the farmer and the Rural Operational Support Team to identify the owner.  He said: "We are keen to trace the owner of a black, possibly Labrador dog – if you know the female owner who walks a dog in this area, please make contact with us. We also want to make farmers aware so they can put additional measures in place to deter dogs from sheep worrying”.

He said: “It's crucial that you keep your dog on a short lead around livestock, even if you can usually trust it to come when called.  Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence.”

The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering or loss of produce, or being at large, that is not on a lead or otherwise under close control, in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep. The Act does not require livestock to be killed for an offence to be committed.

Dog owners can also be convicted for allowing their dog to be dangerously out of control, and in some cases owners have been cautioned or summonsed to court.

If you see an incident of sheep worrying in progress you should call 999. If the incident has already happened and is no longer in progress you can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form (Opens in a new window).

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