A national database of dog owners whose animals have worried sheep would give farmers the protection they deserve, it’s been claimed.
The call has come from Angus MP Kirstene Hair as she backed calls for wider use of Dog Control Notices.
The Conservative MP said the work of local authorities was being hampered by a lack of information.
It comes after NFU Scotland made a submission to a Holyrood committee on provisions in the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.
Ms Hair said farmers were being let down by the absence of a national database promoted by the act.
She said: “Because notices aren’t tracked between councils, there is no way for anyone to identify repeat offenders.
“An owner could be given a DCN in a Brechin property and another near fields at Alyth, and no one would know.
“The SNP have failed to create the national database outlined by the 2010 legislation, which would give us a clear picture of the problem.”
NFU Scotland Policy Manager Gemma Cooper said the number of attacks remained far too high and the existing act made provision for the Scottish Government to introduce a national database of dog control notices.
She said: “NFU Scotland is not aware this has occurred and feels this must be an underpinning component of any new framework which is implemented to tackle this blight on Scottish agriculture.”
According to the NFUS, Angus Council carried out 184 investigations, issued 16 control notices and 11 written warnings to owners last year.
An Angus Council spokesman said the vast majority of dog owners were responsible and kept their pets under control but urged anyone with concerns to speak to a local authority dog warden or the police.
The Scottish Government said its public audit and post-legislative scrutiny committee had sought views on the issue as part of its role in relation to the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. The closing date for responses was October 5 and the committee will report in due course.
A spokesperson said: “Livestock worrying is a serious issue and we fully support all efforts to encourage dog owners to act responsibly at all times.
“It is an offence for a dog owner to allow their animal to worry livestock and local authorities have the power to issue dog control notices. Their use of these powers to date is a matter for them.”
