Livestock worrying is becoming an increasing issue especially now that spring has arrived and the lambing season is well under way. It is important that dogs are kept under control to protect the livestock as well as you and your pet.

Livestock that are killed or injured as the result of an out of control dog is a criminal offence. During such attacks dogs can be injured too.

There are simple ways to keep both your pet and livestock safe.

• Keep your dog on a lead – Dog walkers that use open access land must keep their dog on a short lead (a maximum of two metres) between 1 March and 31 July. If near livestock this applies at all times.
• Stick to paths and public rights of way – Often areas of private land may have footpaths running through them. Mostly, these paths are to the edge of fields to minimise disruption to any livestock in that area, it is important to follow these paths.
• Look out for and follow signs – Most land owners will display simple ‘Keep your dog on a lead’ signs, however, at this time of year, some livestock owners restrict access to their land to protect their animals. It is important to follow this advice.

Even well behaved dogs can cause stress and disruption to livestock.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is under control at all times.
For more information on this issue and ways to report rural crime, please visit the Thames Valley Police website.

Message Sent By
Caitlin Rosetti (Police, Communications Support Assistant, Thames Valley)

Having your dog microchipped can make a lot of difference when looking for and trying to identify a missing dog.

Since April 2016 it has been a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by 8 weeks of age.

Each microchip has a unique number that must be registered on a Government approved database along with information about your dog and you as its owner. If your dog is not registered on one of these databases you can be fined.

It is important that the information is kept up-to-date so that if your dog does go missing, you can be contacted at the correct phone number or address.
Reporting it to the police as soon as possible is also important, including making us aware of the microchip number so we can record this on our database. This will make it easier for us to identify any dogs that are found and check to see if they have been reported as missing or stolen.

It is also recommended to record the loss or theft of your dog online using sites dedicated to finding lost and stolen dogs. Often these sites work with police and other organisations, such as local Neighbourhood Watch Groups and Vetinary practices, to try and find them.

More information on microchipping your dog can be found on the Government website.

In 2016, the Dogs Trust recorded that 9,000 stray dogs were reunited with their owners due to having a microchip with up-to-date details.

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) also reported that in 2017, 11% of dog owners did not realise that it was a requirement by law to have their dog microchipped and a further 7% had not updated their details when they needed to.

Message Sent By
Caitlin Rosetti (Police, Communications Support Assistant, Thames Valley)

Heath End, Hawridge (50 m either side of Boundary Cottage) from 30th April 2018 for 3 days

Ray’s Hill, Braziers End from Cholesbury Lane to Braziers End from 30th April for 2 days from 09:30-15:30 approx

The Vale/Cholesbury Lane (Nashleigh Hill to Cholesbury Road) from 7th May 2018 in three phases (no end date given)