CHESHIRE East Council is calling on dog owners to ‘get a grip’ and ensure their pets don’t harm livestock and nesting birds.

Dogs worrying and attacking livestock is a major issue for both farmers and dog owners. As well as causing significant emotional distress, there is often a major financial impact on all involved as the livestock can be injured or even killed, for which the dog owner is liable.

Many attacks occur during the lambing season and during nesting time. It is vital that dogs are kept on leads – especially during these times.

Mark Palethorpe, Cheshire East Council executive director of people, said: “Dog owners have a duty to be responsible, considerate and obey the law regarding their pets. I would remind everyone that it is a criminal offence for an owner or person in charge of a dog to allow it to worry livestock.

“The majority of pet owners are responsible – but all should be aware that, as a last resort, a landowner or someone acting on their behalf, has the legal right to shoot a dog to protect their property, under the Animals Act 1971.”

Cheshire East Council animal health and welfare team, Cheshire police and the countryside rangers have launched a joint campaign to reduce incidents in the borough.

As part of the campaign, they have drawn up a checklist of dos and don’t’s. For dog owners, these include: never leaving your dog unaccompanied outside of your home as many incidents of worrying and attacks occur when owners are not present; consider using alternative routes away from livestock, where possible; keeping your dog on a lead in enclosures containing livestock (walkers are advised to release their dogs, however, if threatened by cattle, so that they can get to safety separately); and picking up after your dog to dispose of faeces responsibly – in a bin or by taking it home for disposal. Dog faeces contain parasites that are harmful to sheep and cattle.

For farmers, the checklist says they should: display notices that advise dog walkers of livestock in fields and ask the public to keep livestock safe by keeping their dogs on leads; ensure notices are up to date and removed if not required; report all incidents of livestock worrying and attacks to the police by ringing 101.

Mr Palethorpe added: “Please keep your dog on a lead where livestock is grazing or there could be a threat to ground-nesting birds. Any dog, regardless of breed, has the potential to chase and worry livestock. Do not let it be your dog.”

If you allow a dog to worry livestock, you may be prosecuted or fined and ordered to pay compensation.

For more information on this issue visit gov.uk/control-dog-public