NSA calls for combined effort to raise awareness of sheep worrying by dogs
26th April 2021
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is encouraging retailers, pet service providers such as vets and rescue centres and popular visitor sites to join together this Spring to raise awareness of the serious issue of sheep worrying by dogs.
With cases of sheep worrying attacks by dogs continuing to rise the sheep farming charity, NSA, is preparing to launch its 2021 campaign supporting the issue and is suggesting others play their part in tackling the problem too.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “As a farmer facing organisation it can be difficult for NSA to reach the general public with the simple but crucial message to keep dogs on leads whenever sheep might be nearby. NSA is therefore calling on those with regular contact with dog owners in the many varied areas of life to help spread this message also.
“To assist with promotion of NSA’s 2021 #LeadOn campaign we ask as many public-facing organisations and companies as possible to display our newly designed, eye-catching graphics and posters. Together a change in attitudes and reduction in this devastating problem can be achieved and the welfare of thousands of sheep that are affected each year improved.”
NSA’s plea comes ahead of the release of results from the Association’s 2021 sheep farmers’ survey assessing the impact of sheep worrying by dogs on farmers across the UK during the past year.
Having received a record-breaking response to the survey NSA is confident results will show an increase in cases of sheep worrying by dogs over the past year as lockdown has seen an increase in dog ownership. The concern of many UK farmers is now of the ongoing issues with dogs who may have not been able to be fully trained and socialised over the lockdown period due to Covid-19 restrictions and the problems they could potentially cause whilst enjoying walks through the countryside.
Full results of the 2021 survey will be shared by NSA from Friday 30th April with a summary of results available from the NSA website shortly after.
Companies, organisations and individuals who can support NSA’s #LeadOn campaign can download a range of resources including eye catching posters below or by clicking here. Individuals are also encouraged to show their support by using the campaign hashtag message #LeadOn on social media posts sharing their experiences as sheep farmers or as responsible dog owners themselves.
Further details of NSA’s two week long #LeadOn campaign can be found at go.nationalsheep.org.uk/leadon
