THE Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is pushing for tough new laws for irresponsible dog owners following reports of attacks to livestock increasing in recent months.

The union have highlighted the need for an increased police presence across the whole of rural Wales as they report that there were 449 cases of livestock attacks between 2013-2017 in North Wales alone, but the problem continues to be under reported by farmers due to a lack of confidence in the police and legal system.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW senior policy officer, said: “The only solution to the problem is to tackle dog attacks in the way that North Wales police have; setting up a dedicated unit to police the rural parts of every county. In addition, the FUW is reminding dog owners of its ‘Your dog, your responsibility’ campaign.”

Dr Wright points to North Wales Police and their rural crime division, the only force to maintain records and statistics, which show that 89 per cent of all dog attacks on livestock happen when they stray from home.

She adds: “As the law stands currently, there is very little that can be done to recompense the farmer or ensure that the dog involved is prevented from reoffending, and it is these people we want to target.

“The FUW believes introducing new laws, which will act as a powerful deterrent to prevent dog owners allowing their animals to stray.”

In summarising, the union have said they want the harsher laws to dictate there be mandatory recording of dog attacks on livestock by all Welsh police forces with changes to the current fines - currently a maximum non imprisonable offence holds a maximum fine of up to £1000.

They also call for police forces to be granted the power to obtain DNA samples from suspect dogs, as well as the ability to confiscate the animals and ban individuals from owning another dog.

The union hope that the changes can include a legal responsibility for dog owners to report these attacks in a bid to prevent badly injured sheep being left to suffer alone. Failing to report an attack should be an offence.

Dr Wright explained that the findings show 52 dogs have been shot for attacking livestock in North Wales in the past four years.

She said: “No farmer wants any animal to be killed needlessly, and the lack of substantive legal action means that there is no real deterrent for the dog owner.

“It appears education alone cannot solve this complex issue, but hopefully changes in legislation to ensure the seriousness of this offence is understood, can give Welsh and English police the powers to properly deal with offenders and provide a deterrent which means that less stock and fewer family pets are lost.”