Improvements to livestock worrying legislation welcome news for gamekeepers, says BASC

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has welcomed the announcement that enclosed gamebirds are to be included within enhanced livestock worrying legislation in England and Wales.

Listing enclosed gamebirds and increasing police powers for dealing with incidents of livestock worrying are just two parts of a wider Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill introduced this week.

The announcement for England and Wales follows the inclusion of enclosed gamebirds in Scottish law through the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act, which was successfully enacted last month.

Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and gundogs, said: “Expanding the scope of the legislation and introducing new powers to tackle livestock worrying is welcome news for the farming and gamekeeping community. The issue of livestock worrying is as distressing as it is devastating – any action to safeguard livestock is to be supported.

“Out of control dogs can cause havoc to enclosed gamebirds on the rearing field and in release pens.

“BASC was fully supportive and provided multiple case studies for the inclusion of gamebirds within the Scottish legislation, we will be doing likewise for England and Wales within the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.”