A SURGE in dog attacks on livestock has forced a conservation charity to take the unusual step of appointing a new dog project manager.

Despite an ongoing push by the National Trust to encourage gatepost signage across fields and fells to warn dog owners to keep their animal on a lead, the number of attacks is increasing in the county.

The limitations allow ‘permissive access’ for people to walk freely in fields with no livestock, but access has been capped in areas where farmers have been worst affected. The restrictions do not, however, affect public Rights of Ways.

“The job of the trust’s new dog project manager is to highlight support for tenant farmers, while making the charity’s land and historic buildings more dog friendly,” said a trust spokesperson.

Rachel Forsyth, 36, who lives in Cumbria, and is a dog owner herself, is tasked with “getting the balance right”.

“It’s not going to be easy to keep everyone happy,” said Rachel, who has worked for the trust for the past 10 years.

“Around 50 per cent of all visits to the countryside are with a dog, so that’s a lot of dogs visiting our land and we want to make sure all these visitors have a fantastic time and behave responsibly.

“Our tenants farm around 90 per cent of our land and have to deal with problems including livestock being chased or injured by dogs and dog mess which can cause illness in sheep and cattle.”

Rachel added: “We expect everyone to bring a short (2m) lead and bags to pick up after dog and to not let their dog run up to other people or chase livestock and wildlife.

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“To help get this message across we will create clearer messages on our website and at our places so people can plan their visit and head to the most dog friendly places.”

One angry Lake District tenant farmer said over the years he had been “physically and verbally abused when asking people to put their dogs on a lead when near his sheep”.

“I have been spat on too,” said Alan Clark, who runs a flock of 350 sheep with the help of partner, Sarah and daughter Kimberley.

“In the latest attack we discovered that a dog had chased our sheep over walls and onto the main road. “Over the coming days the ewes started aborting their lambs, and 11 out of the 40 lost their lambs. Apart from the all the stress it caused us, in financial terms it will have a massive impact on our business,” said Alan.

“This is not the first time and unfortunately won’t be the last attack until a minority of the public respect farm stock, and that this is our family livelihood at stake. I say minority as most people do respect at spring time, sheep are carrying their young and do keep there pets on a lead or at heel.

“The attack has left me gutted and sickened again.”