28 Section 2
monitor these types of interventions, such as, for example, correlations be-
tween the Human Development Indexes in different societies and animal
welfare status in different scenarios within each society.
In rural areas, interventions that educate owners on responsible dog
ownership and dog control can help prevent dog attacks to livestock. The
impact of this extends to livestock welfare and that of the farming commu-
nity, which can be affected by financial losses, distress and additional nega-
tive factors such as depression (NSA, 2016).
Case Study 5 – National Sheep Association Annual Survey (UK) (by Nicola
Smith, National Sheep Association, UK)
Following a series of serious incidents where dogs out of control in livestock
fields caused deaths and farm losses, the National Sheep Association in the UK
(NSA) has been involved in numerous efforts to reduce these incidents. For ex-
ample, a number of case studies showing the impact on sheep flocks and sheep
farmers of dogs out of control has been collated and is publically available on its
website. The NSA has also developed materials to help address the issue and
raise public awareness, including a ‘sheepwise’ campaign aimed at dog owners.
This displays a short film featuring first-hand accounts of the devastation caused
when dogs worry sheep, covering both the anguish that dog owners face, along
with a potential criminal prosecution if they fail to control their dogs properly in
the countryside. It also stresses the negative impact on farmers and sheep wel-
fare by describing the devastation of seeing lambs or ewes attacked and killed
by dogs.
As part of this work the NSA created a nationwide survey that demonstrates the
consequences of these attacks for:- The livestock: number of dead, escapes, abortions, injury or euthanasia
incidents. - The farmer: stress, financial losses, depression, etc.
- The dog: shot on site or court-ordered euthanasia.
- The owner: financial payments through compensation, emotional stress from
loss of dog.
Finally, resources to address this welfare problem in the farming community
and dog ownership sector have focused on educational campaigns by providing
posters and signs for the public, advice to farmers and raising awareness among
police forces of the importance of treating this crime seriously.