Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative candidate for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, has welcomed new legislation which introduces tougher penalties for people who let their dogs attack or kill livestock.
The Scottish Parliament voted to pass the Bill on its last sitting day before it rises for the election on the 6th May.
In the Borders, the number of offences recorded by Police Scotland under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 rose from 3 in 2009/10 to 19 in 2019/20.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill strengthens the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 in relation to “livestock worrying” where sheep or other farmed animals are chased, attacked or killed by dogs.
It also proposes increases in penalties and additional powers for the investigation and the enforcement of the existing offence of livestock worrying. Penalties for livestock worrying will become tougher, through either a fine of £40,000, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.
Livestock worrying can be extremely costly for farmers and crofters. NFU Mutual has previously reported that it paid out £1.2 million in claims in one year, and has seen a 15 per cent increase in the cost of livestock worrying.
Mrs Hamilton has long campaigned for stricter legislation to be introduced following a rise in the number of livestock worrying incidents. She believes the Scottish Government should have introduced new legislation sooner, rather than through the lengthy process of a Member’s Bill by Emma Harper MSP.
Rachael Hamilton said:
“Livestock worrying is on the rise across the Borders and this new legislation is timely.
“The new legislation will address a problem which causes immense distress to livestock, and often has devastating and fatal consequences.
“Owners who recklessly let dangerous dogs off their leads, to torment, injury or even kill livestock, will now face tougher penalties.
“Borders farmers’ livelihoods are at stake when people irresponsibly fail to keep their dogs under control.
“The 1953 Act which is now nearly 70 years old and legislative change was very much needed.
“The SNP Government should have brought forward legislative change years ago, as a wide range of rural stakeholders have been very vocal about this issue for many years now.
“This new Bill scratches the surface on a long list of rural issues which the SNP Government have failed to tackle in their 14 years of office”.