OVER recent weeks, we have heard from a few corners of Wales that livestock have once again been attacked, writes FUW president Glyn Roberts.

Despite much awareness raising over the years by the FUW and others, it is sadly an issue that our members continue to have to deal with.

For the time being, we will have to wait for changes to go through the motions at Westminster and we watch with interest the progress of the UK Kept Animals Bill.

The bill makes provisions about the welfare of certain kept animals, including livestock, and will replace the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

However, whilst it is clear that the bill is currently progressing through the House of Commons, urgent action to tackle the problem is required.

READ MORE: FUW raised key farming issues during the Winter Fair

We have previously welcomed many of the provisions in the bill, especially those provisions which function to provide greater investigative and enforcement powers to police forces.

Some of the changes, such as a definition of ‘livestock worrying’ which includes situations whereby a dog chases livestock without any resulting visible injury and improved enforcement powers which will allow police to enter suspect premises, seize and detain a dog and take samples for the purpose of collecting evidence of an offence, have also previously been welcomed by the FUW.

However, notwithstanding the above, the FUW remains concerned at the provisions in the bill which relate to the definition of dogs ‘at large’.

At present, the bill states that a dog is ‘at large’ unless it is on a lead length of 1.8m or less or is within sight of a person and the person remains aware of the dog’s actions and the person has reason to be confident that the dog will return promptly and reliably.

As part of our evidence to the Welsh Bill Committee, the union stated that individual dog owners are not best placed to judge whether or not their dog will return promptly and reliably and when called.

The bill must be further strengthened to require that all dogs be kept on a lead in fields near or adjacent to livestock. 

What is clear is that urgent action is required, especially given the latest disturbing news of yet more livestock attacks.

On a final note this week, we urge our members to ensure that they report these incidents to the police and also that they have the right insurance cover in place, so that financial loss doesn’t compound the already stressful situations that arise when having to deal with the aftermath of such incidents.