Dog attacks on sheep being swept under carpet amid fears of "carnage" over Easter weekend

And estimates based on claims data from NFU Mutual show that farm animals in the North East region, which incorporates Yorkshire, worth £169,271 were killed or severely injured by dogs last year.

At this time of year, pregnant ewes and new-born lambs are especially at risk from out-of-control dogs and other reports include livestock being chased off cliff edges.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual’s Rural Affairs Specialist, said: “The Easter holidays see many people exploring the North East’s beautiful countryside, but they must remember these idyllic rural destinations are key to farmers’ livelihoods and are home to thousands of sheep and new-born lambs.

“This year’s lambing season is underway across the region, so it is crucial all dog owners act responsibly by keeping their dog on a lead in areas where livestock are nearby, especially near vulnerable sheep and lambs.

“The Covid-19 pandemic saw many people owning dogs for the first time, but tragically this has been followed by a sharp increase in the cost of livestock attacks.

“It is hard for people to imagine their friendly family pet could chase, injure or kill another animal - but all dogs are capable of this, regardless of breed or size.

“Even dogs chasing sheep can have serious consequences. We’ve heard reports from farmers where sheep and lambs have drowned, suffocated, been run over or chased off cliff edges because of out-of-control dogs.

“Even if a dog does not make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion from being chased can cause a pregnant ewe to miscarry or die. It can also separate young lambs from their mothers, which can lead them to become orphaned.”

Dog owners are being urged to take responsibility if their pet does attack sheep and to “accept responsibility and report it”, either to the police or a local farmer, so the injured animals are not left suffering.

The warning comes after NFU Mutual’s survey of more than 1,100 dog owners found that despite 64 per cent of owners admitting their dogs chase animals, almost half believe their dog was not capable of injuring or killing livestock.

Sixty-four per cent say they let their dog roam off-lead in the countryside but almost four in ten admit that their pets do not always come back when called.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) also published a report last week which showed that 70 per cent of sheep farmers surveyed had experienced sheep worrying incidents in the last year.

Nearly all respondents said they got up to 10 cases per year with, on average, three sheep deaths being reported each year due to a dog attack.

This does not take into account production losses in sheep, including miscarriage, that were reported by almost 70 per cent of respondents, while they also said that sheep do not cope well with stressful situations and can even die from shock days after the event.

The NSA and its members have called for stronger penalties and powers to be imposed.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “UK farmers are making huge gains improving animal health and welfare and are now being incentivised by governments to do this also. But one of the most concerning threats to sheep welfare, worrying by dogs, continues to be swept under the carpet.

"It seems to be an area where resolution is too difficult a challenge to tackle and so, attacks continue with little consequence to those at fault.

“The Kept Animals Bill is well behind schedule which is frustrating on one hand but I still don’t believe it is fit for purpose, still not requiring dogs to be on leads when in fields with sheep and suggesting maximum fines for those found guilty being limited to £1000 in England.

"This compares to a recent change of legislation in Scotland that has seen the same crime punishable with up to a £40,000 fine or prison sentence. This disparity must be addressed.”