Sheep farmers welcome the idea of dog DNA database
FARMERS who herd their sheep on public land, at L’Ancresse and Pleinmont, have reacted positively to the States vet’s plans for a DNA database of all dogs on the island.
But one has said he can see even that idea would have its limitations.
Marcel Worley has experienced three attacks in 10 days at Pleinmont, where his flock grazes.
‘Sheep worrying and attacks are not the only issue. Dog walkers not cleaning up after their dogs is also a big issue, spreading disease through both sheep and cattle.
‘You will only find saliva if the dog bites the sheep,’ he said. ‘So the benefit of the DNA database is to catch the culprits who do not pick up the faeces or throw the bag in the hedges etc.
‘A dog can worry the sheep without biting them. Chasing them is enough stress, causing sheep to abort or give birth to dead lambs.’
Farmer and herdsman Jason Niles said: ‘So many dog walkers are no problem at all, but it only takes one.
‘I like to think that a dog walker would stop and take the blame for their dog, but if there was an attack, which no one had reported, it [DNA register] would be a great help.’
States vet David Chamberlain has said that a central register would come at a cost.
But it was one some dog owners would be willing to pay.
Walking his dogs at Ladies’ Bay, Anthony Bougourd said: ‘I think the proposals are a good idea and I’m not too worried about the cost.’
But Geoff Meagher felt the DNA register was not required.
‘The price won’t make a difference because if someone wants to own a dog this won’t stop them.
‘I think if you’re a responsible owner you shouldn’t have to worry about it. The thing is there are irresponsible dog owners but there are irresponsible people in all walks of life. We who are responsible shouldn’t be penalised,’ he said.
The proposed register would require all dog owners on island to register their identity and that of their dogs as well as have the animals’ DNA swabbed.
The current system of dog tax only stipulates inclusion of the owners’ personal details, but cannot provide any insight when attempting to prosecute dog owners for serial fouling or livestock worrying.
A DNA register is successfully used in the US to tackle dog fouling within private, managed communities where there is usually no public right for the general public to walk their dogs and where it can be a requirement for those living in these communities to register their dogs.
While such a system might be more difficult to operate across a wider UK local authority area, Guernsey’s parish system of registry is already split into manageable sections. Some 4,482 dogs were on the register in 2018.
Mr Chamberlain said that there was no exact figure for the cost of the proposed new system because ‘project development work has barely started’.
‘It is premature to speculate but we can say that fees will be set so that the scheme is self-funding when fully in place and is likely to be higher than current dog tax rates,’ he added.
Similar systems in the US cost around $50 per dog (£38).
