'Complacency kills': Cost of dog attacks surges by nearly one third
Date of alert:
Tuesday 27 February 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
National
Dog attacks on livestock cost an estimated £2.4 million during the course of 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year, shocking new figures show.
Complacency among some dog owners alongside an inability to control their pets led to the surge, according to NFU Mutual, which has unveiled its anti livestock worrying campaign today.
A survey of over 1,100 dog owners by the insurer found more people were letting their dogs off leads in the countryside last year than in 2022, 68% and 64% respectively.
And worryingly, only less than half (49 percent) said their pet always comes back when called.
Almost 8% admitted their dog chases livestock but 46% believed their dog was not capable of causing the death or injury of farm animals.
More than half (54%) felt they did not need to take active measures to prevent their dog from chasing, NFU Mutual's survey shows.
