A livestock worrying webinar to address the on-going problem of dog attacks on sheep is to be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 25.

Hosted by the Farmers’ Union of Wales, with Wales YFC and FUW Insurance Services, the webinar, is open to all FUW and YFC members and FUWIS customers.

The webinar will hear from Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn; North Wales Police rural crime team manager and chair of the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) livestock offences group Rob Taylor; PC Dave Allen, North Wales Police rural crime team and secretary of the NPCC livestock offences group; FUWIS account executive Gwenno Davies, Ceredigion livestock farmer Wyn Evans and Wales YFC rural affairs chairman Clare James.

FUW deputy president Ian Rickman, who will be chairing the event, said: “Farmers across Wales continue to be subjected to livestock worrying and avoidable losses, such as those that occur when a dog chases or attacks livestock. It remains a significant source of frustration for the livestock sector in Wales.

“Industry initiatives, such as the FUW campaign ‘Your dog, Your responsibility’ which widened the message to respecting the countryside, picking up after your dog, keeping dogs on a lead near livestock and making sure dogs don’t escape from home, have had some impact but there are still many questions farmers have in how they can protect themselves and their livestock from such incidents.

“We are therefore hosting an information webinar, which will look at how livestock worrying incidents need to be reported by farmers, hear what the law says farmers can do and where the law sits when it comes to civilians and we are also going to explore what insurance cover is available for farmers when it comes to protecting their assets from dog attacks.”

For joining details, please contact your local FUW office or Wales YFC.