DOG owners across Argyll and Bute are being urged to act responsibly in the countryside as new figures reveal farm animals in Scotland worth an estimated £74,000 were severely injured or killed in dog attacks last year.
The latest data from rural insurer NFU Mutual shows the Scottish total for 2025 represents a 28 per cent drop on the 102,000 recorded in 2024.
However, the picture across the UK as a whole is worsening. Livestock worrying incidents cost an estimated £1.95 million in 2025 – a 10 per cent rise on the previous year.
The figures have been released as lambing season gets underway, a critical time for sheep farmers when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are particularly vulnerable.
A new NFU Mutual survey of 1,407 dog owners found that 57 per cent let their dogs off the lead in the countryside. One in 10 admitted their dog has no recall, while 44 per cent said their pet comes back only some or most of the time.
One in 20 dog owners confessed their dog had chased livestock. Despite this, 72 per cent said they were not actively taking steps to prevent chasing, and nearly two-thirds did not believe their dog was capable of injuring or killing farm animals.
More than three-fifths felt other dog owners in their area did not treat livestock worrying as a serious issue.
In Scotland, 43 per cent of dog owners were aware that people can face imprisonment if their dog attacks livestock – the highest level of awareness recorded in the past five years.
NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist Hannah Binns said the lambing season is an especially difficult time for farmers dealing with attacks.
As the lambing season gets underway, it is deeply concerning to see the estimated cost of livestock worrying across the UK rise to nearly £2 million in 2025, she said.
For farmers and their families, finding injured or dead livestock after an attack can be utterly heartbreaking.
Regardless of breed, size or temperament, all dogs can chase, injure or kill livestock. Even if there is no physical contact, the stress of being chased can cause exhaustion and miscarriages, and can separate lambs from their mothers.
She urged dog owners to keep pets on leads wherever livestock may be nearby and to report any incidents to farmers and Police Scotland.
NFU Mutual is advising those visiting rural areas to:
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Keep dogs on a lead near livestock, but release the lead if chased by cattle
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Recognise that any dog can cause distress, injury or death to farm animals
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Report attacks to the local dog warden, police or farmer
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Ensure dogs cannot escape from gardens close to grazing fields
With many residents and visitors set to enjoy Argyll and Bute’s countryside in the coming weeks, farmers are appealing for vigilance to prevent further attacks during one of the most important periods in the farming calendar.
