Neil Hamilton, MS for Mid & West Wales, and Leader of UKIP Wales is urging farmers to join a special on-line meeting to address the on-going livestock worrying incidents across Wales.
Mr Hamilton, a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, is backing The Farmers’ Union of Wales, who jointly with Wales YFC and FUW Insurance Services, are hosting a livestock worrying webinar this Thursday.
He said:
“I am delighted to support such a worthwhile meeting and urge farmers all over Wales to make sure they attend.
“I make no apologies for continuing to try to drive this message home to people. Attacks in rural areas remain a major concern for Welsh farmers and we need to do everything we can to highlight the problem.
“Everyone enjoys walking dogs in the country and, of course, this is helping many people cope with the Covid crisis, but no-one wants to see unnecessary suffering caused to sheep or other animals. Some may think they can guarantee their pet will not harass the animals but better be safe than sorry.
“The reality is that a dog allowed to roam off a leash can cause distress and injury to sheep, in particular, and everyone needs to take extra care.
“Our farmers in Wales have been hit hard by the closure of many of their service outlets and do not need this added pressure.”
The webinar, which is open to all FUW, Wales YFC members and FUWIS customers, will take place on Thursday February 25 at 7pm via Zoom.
The webinar will hear from Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn, North Wales Police Rural Crime Team Manager and Chair of the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) Livestock Offences group Rob Taylor and PC Dave Allen, North Wales Police Rural Crime Team and secretary of the NPCC Livestock Offences Group, FUWIS Account Executive Gwenno Davies, Ceredigion livestock farmer Wyn Evans and Wales YFC Rural Affairs Chairman Clare James will be chairing the Q&A session.
Speaking ahead of the event, FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman who will be chairing the event, said: “Farmers across Wales continue to be subjected to livestock worrying and avoidable losses, such as those that occur when a dog chases or attacks livestock. It remains a significant source of frustration for the livestock sector in Wales.
“Industry initiatives, such as the FUW campaign ‘Your dog, Your responsibility’ which widened the message to respecting the countryside, picking up after your dog, keeping dogs on a lead near livestock and making sure dogs don’t escape from home, have had some impact but there are still many questions farmers have in how they can protect themselves and their livestock from such incidents.
“We are therefore hosting an information webinar, which will look at how livestock worrying incidents need to be reported by farmers, hear what the law says farmers can do and where the law sits when it comes to civilians and we are also going to explore what insurance cover is available for farmers when it comes to protecting their assets from dog attacks. I hope many of you can join us on the night.”
For joining details, please contact your local FUW office or Wales YFC.
