With lambing season underway, Leicestershire Police have joined with local farmers to warn of the emotional and financial strain put on the farming community by sheep worrying.

The Countryside Alliance define sheep worrying as occurring "when a dog is either chasing or worrying a sheep to the point where it is reasonably expected that the sheep will endure suffering or injury". 

As such, the message from the rural policing team and local farmers is to "keep dogs on leads when in the countryside".

Mark, a local farmer who has recently lost sheep to dog attacks, explains the emotional and financial impact sheep worrying can have on farmers and their animals:

With lambing season underway for another year, dog owners should:

• Keep dogs on leads when walking in rural areas where livestock are kept, but let go of the lead if chased by cattle 
• Be aware that even small dogs can cause distress, injury and death to farm animals
• Keep to public footpaths and look out for 'sheep grazing' and 'cattle in field' signs
• Report dog attacks or sheep worrying concerns to the police

Visit the Leicestershire and Rutland Police website for more information on rural crime and how to keep yourself safe in the countryside.