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But the majority of Scots were unaware of the potential repercussions

The passing of tough new legislation aimed at protecting animals from dog attacks is being marked by a new campaign to make owners aware that fines of up to 40,000 and prison sentences await those who let their pets worry, kill or injure farmed animals.

The Livestock Attack and Distress campaign with the slogan: Your Dog Your Responsibility was launched on Tuesday (Jan 11)) at the Pentland Hills Regional Park, near Edinburgh and organised by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).

Attacks

The park is a popular location for dog walking and has unfortunately experienced a number of attacks on farm animals in recent years.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on November 5, 2021, following a successful Members Bill brought by Emma Harper, MSP, supported by SPARC, NFU Scotland and livestock owners.

The campaign will run through the lambing season, when sheep and lambs are most vulnerable to attacks and will be run again in the autumn.

Inspector Alan Dron, Police Scotland National Rural Crime Co-ordinator, said: The new laws introduction is timely given the increase in dog ownership experienced during Covid and the aim of the campaign is designed to educate and raise awareness amongst dog owners, whether new or experienced, that their dog is very much their responsibility.

The need to communicate the new measures to the dog-owning public has been shown by a recent survey commissioned by rural insurer NFU Mutual with Scottish dog owners.

Only 4 per cent of people surveyed knew they could now be fined up to 40,000 if their dog attacked livestock and only 22 per cent knew they could be sent to prison if their dog attacked livestock.

NFU Mutual claims figures show that the UK cost of dog attacks on livestock rose by 50 per cent the first quarter of 2021 (compared to the same period the previous year) as the pandemic led to a surge in dog ownership and countryside visits.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardians Take the Lead campaign continues to push for tougher legislation on dog attacks on livestock in England and Wales.