Farmers and dog owners are being reminded of the legislation in relation to the worrying livestock. This reminder comes as the lambing season has already begun with ewes either heavily pregnant or with young lambs.
Police in Haverfordwest have recently dealt with an incident in the Newgale area where three dogs worried and attacked a flock of sheep. Two of the dogs were located and were taken away by the dog warden with enquiries being made to locate the owners.
The Animal Act 1971 concerns the civil liability for damage done by animals and protection of livestock.
It allows the killing or injuring of dogs worrying livestock in certain circumstances, namely that they acted in protecting livestock and were entitled to do so and they notified the officer in charge of a police station within 48 hours of doing so.
It also needs to be providing the land or livestock belonged to the person protecting them from the dogs.
A person killing or causing injury to a dog shall be deemed to have acted in protecting livestock if either the dog was worrying the livestock and there was no other means in preventing the worrying or the dog had been worrying livestock, had not left the vicinity and the dogs were not under control and there was no way of establishing the owners of the dog.
Anyone wanting more information should contact their nearest police station or PC Gerwyn Davies at Haverfordwest Police Station on 0845 330 2000.