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A rise in the number of dog walkers on rural roads due to coronavirus restrictions has led to concerns about the increased risk of livestock worrying.
A common area of confusion surrounds the action that a farmer can legally take if a stray dog is causing harm to their livestock.
Legislation for NI states that there are grounds to shoot a dog that “was worrying or was about to worry livestock”.
However, the farmer must be able to prove that there were “no other reasonable means” of ending the incident.
A dog can also be shot after a livestock worrying incident has ended if it has not left the area and there are “no practical means” of finding out who it belongs to.
Legislation requires farmers to contact the PSNI within 48 hours of shooting a dog that had been harming livestock.
It is a criminal offence in NI to allow a dog on any land containing livestock unless it is “restrained by a chain or other sufficient leash”.
A fine of up to £1,000 can apply to a person in charge of a dog that worries livestock.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging its members to report all incidents of livestock worrying to local dog wardens for investigation.
“I again appeal to all dog owners, dog wardens and local authorities to step up to the mark and prevent incidences of livestock worrying occurring,” said UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt.
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