Hampshire Police join 'Operation Recall' to promote good dog ownership

A new initiative called Operation Recall, supported by groups including the RSPCA and Naturewatch has been adopted by Hampshire Police. It's aimed at helping dog owners to look after their pets, especially in the countryside and round livestock. Spring is when many far animals, such as sheep, are most vulnerable as they lamb, and every year there are cases of farm animals dying after being worried by dogs. 

The campaign says that some key points to bear in mind this time of year to help with the welfare of livestock and your dog:

·  If you come across a sheep on its back, try to roll it over anhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLBCIiKof0d raise the alarm with the farmer if this is possible.

·  It is so important to keep dogs either on leads or under close control around livestock.

·  If you are walking your dog in a field and there is no livestock, please keep the dog in sight at all times, be aware of what it is doing, and be confident it will return to you promptly on command. If you cannot be confident of this, the dog should not be off the lead.

·  Ensure the dog does not stray off the path or area where you have right of access.

·  It is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock. We want owners to be aware that in such instances, the owner or person in control of the dog can be prosecuted, and as a last resort the dog can be shot by the farmer to end an attack.

Hampshire Countryside Service have also released a video to show how to walk with a dog around livestock which you can see here. 

For more information on Operation Recall, visit: https://naturewatch.org/campaigns/operation-recall/