Fresh calls for responsible dog ownership ahead of lambing season in Whitby area
Fresh calls for responsible dog ownership are bring made ahead of lambing season around Whitby and the Esk Valley area, as new NFU Mutual figures reveal cost of livestock worrying in the North East.
Latest figures from the UK’s leading rural insurer, NFU Mutual, estimate that farm animals in the North East of England worth £124,000 were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2025, a 37% rise compared to the previous year.
It mirrors the UK trend which saw £1.95m of livestock injured or killed in these incidents, up 10% compared to 2024.
This data coincides with findings from a new NFU Mutual survey of 1,407 dog owners released today, which reveal 57% let their dogs off leads in the countryside.
But alarmingly, one in 10 admitted their dog has no recall while 44% said their dogs came back only ‘some’ or ‘most of the time’.
One in 20 dog owners confessed their dogs had chased livestock, and more than three-fifths felt that other dog owners in their area did not treat livestock worrying as a serious issue.
Despite this, 72% highlighted they were not actively taking steps to prevent their dogs from chasing and almost two-thirds said they do not believe their dogs are capable of harming or killing animals.
NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist, Hannah Binns, said: “As the lambing season gets underway, a time when pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are vulnerable, it is deeply concerning to see the estimated cost of livestock worrying rise to nearly £2 million in 2025.
“As a sheep farmer’s daughter, I know first-hand the hard work, long hours and emotional investment that goes into the lambing season.
"For farmers and their families, witnessing these horrific incidents or finding injured or dead livestock after an attack can be utterly heartbreaking.
“Farmers across the UK are living with the constant fear of repeat incidents, which cause immense suffering to livestock and can traumatise all involved in dealing with the aftermath.
“Ignoring the risks is never an option; regardless of breed, size, or temperament, all dogs can chase, injure or kill livestock.
"Even without physical contact, the stress of being chased can lead to exhaustion and stress, and in some cases separate young lambs from their mothers, which can lead to them being orphaned.
“It is crucial dog owners act responsibly by keeping their pets on leads wherever livestock may be nearby to prevent these needless attacks.
"If there is an incident, we urge those involved to do the right thing by informing a local farmer and reporting it to the police, so that any injured animals are not left suffering in pain.”