Farmers across North Wales are urging dog owners to act responsibly in the countryside as new figures show a sharp rise in livestock attacks.

Latest data from rural insurer NFU Mutual reveals farm animals in Wales worth an estimated £385,000 were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2025 — a 23% increase on the previous year.

With lambing season now underway across Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Anglesey, local farmers say the timing could not be worse.

North Wales has one of the highest concentrations of sheep farming in the UK, particularly in upland areas such as Eryri and the Clwydian Range.

During lambing, heavily pregnant ewes and newborn lambs are especially vulnerable. Even if sheep are not bitten, being chased by dogs can cause miscarriages, fatal injuries and lambs becoming separated from their mothers.

The Wales-wide rise mirrors a national trend, with livestock worrying costing an estimated £1.95 million across the UK last year.

A survey of more than 1,400 dog owners found 57% allow their dogs off the lead in the countryside. One in 10 admitted their dog has no reliable recall, while nearly half said their pet only returns “some” or “most” of the time. Despite this, almost two-thirds said they do not believe their dog is capable of harming livestock.

The figures come after the passage of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act, which strengthens police powers in England and Wales to investigate attacks and gather evidence. The law is expected to give forces including North Wales Police greater ability to seize dogs involved in incidents and pursue prosecutions.

Rural officers in North Wales regularly patrol hotspot areas, particularly popular walking routes in Eryri and coastal paths where farmland borders public rights of way. Police have previously warned that many attacks happen when dogs escape from gardens backing onto grazing land.

NFU Mutual is reminding dog owners to:

Keep dogs on a lead wherever livestock are present
Ensure pets cannot escape from gardens near fields
Report any attacks to farmers and police immediately

As thousands head into the countryside over half-term and with brighter weather on the horizon, farmers say a simple message applies: if you see sheep, put your dog on a lead.

For North Wales’ farming communities, they say, it’s not just about financial loss — it’s about protecting livelihoods and preventing avoidable suffering during one of the most important times of the year.