With the news that North Wales Police recorded 449 cases of livestock worrying and attacks between 2013 and 2017, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has praised the work of the North Wales Rural Crime Team, but highlighted the fact that Conwy County Borough Council could be doing much more, especially through the current consultation into Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO).
Janet said:
“That 376 livestock have been injured, and 648 killed as a result of dog attacks is alarming.
“In addition to having an extremely negative impact on the agricultural business affected, when considering the distress the livestock must have experienced during the attacks, and the state of the animals once the dogs have finished, the situation can only be described as sickening.
“Whilst I support, and have previously spoken in praise of the work of North Wales Rural Crime Time, they simply cannot deal with the matter alone.
“Undoubtedly, we should all make an effort to ensure that our dogs are always on leads when near livestock or on open farmland/mountain. However, Conwy County Borough Council can help too.
“During the current consultation into PSPO, calls have been made for the Council to take heed of the recommendations made by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare. Of particular significance is the warning that all local authorities should be careful to consider the availability of open space for use by dogs off lead as part of the PSPO review, and that restricting these areas may result in dog owners having to venture into the countryside, and therefore increasing the risk to livestock.
“Here in Conwy we have an additional factor to consider as the manner of the officers employed by Conwy to issue Fixed Penalty Notices is putting people off walking in our urban areas too, and therefore potentially encouraging more dogs to be taken into our countryside – out of the officers’ reach”.
ENDS
Written Assembly Question to Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs:
Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the fact that the cost of dog attacks on livestock in Wales has increased by 40 per cent between 2015 and 2017, and explain what the Welsh Government is doing to help the farmers affected?
Notes
North Wales Police record 50 livestock attack dogs shot
New police report highlights the barriers to tackling attacks on livestock
Livestock Worrying Police Working Group Final report
Calls to Support North Wales Rural Crime Team
A New Campaign to Reduce Attacks on Sheep / Ymgyrch Newydd i Leihau nifer yr Ymosodiadau ar Ddefaid