Police are reminding dog owners in Hertfordshire of the importance of keeping their pets under control in rural areas and farmland, to avoid incidents of livestock worrying.

Livestock worrying is when dogs attack or chase livestock on agricultural land. A dog (not including a working dog) can also be classed as worrying livestock just by being 'at large' in a field or enclosure where there is livestock, such as not being on a lead or otherwise kept under close control.

Sergeant Alex Winning, from the Rural Operational Support Team (ROST), said: "Livestock worrying is a criminal offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.

"We ask that you please keep your dog on a lead if you are out walking. Even if your dog is well-trained, it can still show instinctive predatory behaviour around livestock like sheep and cows - this can cause stress, injury or fatalities to the livestock.

"Livestock worrying is also not just a risk to the welfare of the animals, it can also cause a great deal of stress and possible financial losses to the farmers.

"If you live near farmland, please ensure that your property is appropriately secured to stop your dog(s) getting out and onto agricultural land.

"Dog owners can be convicted for allowing their dog to be dangerously out of control, and in some cases, owners have been cautioned or summonsed to court.

"We would also encourage people to sign the pledge on the Operation Recall website, which is a national initiative that aims to drastically reduce the number of incidents where animals suffer, whether that's injured livestock or dogs killed as a consequence of an attack."

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If you see an incident of livestock worrying in progress you should call 999. If the incident has already happened and is no longer in progress you can report it online, use the online webchat or call the non-emergency number, 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form.

You can also get more information on rural crime prevention on the Herts Police website.