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Thousands sign sheep worrying petition
Last Spring saw repeated incidents of irresponsible dog owners allowing livestock to be killed or maimed by their dog.
Petition backs NFU calls for legislative changes 

A petition calling for tougher action on livestock worrying has been signed by more than 4,000 people.

The #TakeALead Petition comes as NFU Scotland proposes several legislative changes to tackle the problem of dog attacks on sheep.

The Union said last Spring saw repeated incidents of irresponsible dog owners allowing livestock to be killed or maimed by their dog. The cost of this, according to leading rural insurer NFU Mutual, has reached a record level of £1.6 million across the UK.

In May, NFU Scotland wrote to the Scottish government with five areas it believes deserve inclusion in any new framework of guidance.

“Despite a vast amount of awareness raising, livestock worrying remains a blight on Scottish livestock farming,” said Martin Kennedy, Vice President of NFU Scotland. “Dogs themselves are not to blame, it's their irresponsible owners who need to wake up and understand the devastation this is causing.

The five key asks designed to tackle the ongoing blight of livestock worrying are:

    •    Livestock worrying becomes a recordable crime to allow for accurate measurement and monitoring of the issue and provide easy identification of repeat offenders.
    
    •    An update of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) is needed to provide clearer guidance on accessing the countryside with dogs
   
    •    Police Scotland should be provided with powers to issue Dog Control Notices. Currently, only local authority dog wardens have the power to issue Dog Control Notices, and as a result, this mechanism is often unused.
   
    •    Police Scotland should have powers to obtain evidence, seize dogs and have dogs destroyed. These powers will assist in investigations and will prevent dogs from remaining in the custody of irresponsible owners – which experience has shown often results in a repeat offence.
   
    •    Fines levied on offenders must be proportionate and full compensation should be provided for.

“We will engage strongly with the legislative process to ensure robust enforcement, and as always, we urge our members to continue to report all incidents of livestock worrying to Police Scotland,” said Martin Kennedy.

The petition was started by MSP Emma Harper at the Royal Highland Show on Thursday, 21 June. Recently, the South Scotland SNP announced that she will bring forward a proposal for a Private Members Bill.

In addition to the petition, more than 100 people completed a questionnaire which showed only 47 per cent of livestock worrying incidents were being reported to the police. 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.