DOG OWNERS in rural areas such as Worcestershire have been warned to control their dogs as concerns about livestock safety increase.
NFU Mutual, a rural insurance company, has issued an urgent warning to dog owners, after its figures revealed the cost of attacks increased by 35 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year.
Tim Price, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “We are all too aware of the heartbreak and huge financial loss that dog attacks cause to farmers.
“The majority of dog owners act responsibly – but a small minority either don’t know their responsibilities or simply do not care that their pet can inflict the most terrible injuries on livestock – often resulting in death.”
Dogs should be kept on a lead in fields near livestock.
It is also important to familiarise the dog with livestock from a young age and always check for livestock in fields nearby.