Dog Owners Warned as Lambing Season Approaches

As lambing season approaches, the Rights of Way team are reminding dog owners to keep their dogs on leads when using a public right of way through a field in which sheep are present. Failure to comply is an offence under The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. In all other circumstances, dogs must be kept under effective control at all times when using the rural public rights of way network i.e. public footpaths, bridleways and byways; this means that they must be kept on a lead or kept within your sight and you must remain aware of their actions and be confident that your dog will return reliably and promptly on command. You and your dog must not stray off the path. It is an offence to allow a dog to attack or chase livestock. Please remember: • You and your dog must keep to the line of the public right of way (straying off the line of a path is trespassing). • Dog fouling must be removed and binned responsibly and not left on the path, verge or adjacent land. Failure to remove can cause disease/death of livestock. • When walking in fields or enclosures where there is livestock, keep your dog on a lead. The exception to this is in respect of cattle. If cattle approach you in an aggressive manner it is generally accepted to be good practice to let your dog run loose.