FOI 169 / Feb 22 / Dogs v’s Sheep
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 169-2022
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 18th February 2022 as follows:
I am emailing you to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning incidents of livestock worrying by dogs. This information is intended to inform an academic project which the RSPCA is currently undertaking.
E- collar definition: A remote controlled device operated by the handler/ owner and which delivers an electrical impulse (an electric shock) of varying strength to the neck area.
Information Request for 2020 Data
Q1. Total number of incidents of sheep worrying (includes where a dog(s) has chased, injured or killed one or more sheep) with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) present)
Q2. Total number of incidents of sheep worrying (includes where a dog(s) has chased, injured or killed one or more sheep) with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) NOT present)
Q3. Number of incidents where a dog has caused physical injury to one or more sheep with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) present
Q4. Number of incidents where a dog has caused physical injury to one or more sheep with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) NOT present
Q5. Number of incidents where a dog has killed one or more sheep with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) present
Q6. Number of incidents where a dog has killed one or more sheep with an owner or person responsible for the dog(s) NOT present
Q7. Number of incidents involving one or more dogs
Q8. Number of sheep worrying incidents where dog(s) involved were wearing an ecollar
Q9. Number of sheep worrying incidents where dog(s) involved were wearing an ecollar and shot.
Please see the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Searches were conducted of the Command and Control system for incidents recorded in 2020, containing the keyword ‘sheep’ within the text field. The resulting records were then manually reviewed to remove false positives and to locate the relevant information. However, it is important to note that if there were relevant incidents recorded, but the keyword was not present within the text, then these will not have been returned within the search. For this reason, information retrieved by way of a keyword search cannot be assumed to be entirely accurate. Please note that results are limited to the quality of the data recorded and individual interpretation. By way of example, a bite has been determined as causing a physical injury. Incidents, where a sheep has been put down by the vet after a dog worrying incident, have been defined as killed and, where there is no mention of the dog being with an owner, it has been assumed as being on its own.
Q1 response: 5
Q2 response: 10
Q3 response: 3
Q4 response: 8
Q5 response: 2
Q6 response: 4
Q7 response: 7
Q8 response: 0
Q9 response: 0
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB