FARMERS are becoming 'worryingly accepting' of sheep worrying – almost starting to consider it as 'the norm'.

That is the concerns from the National Sheep Association (NSA), after findings from its annual survey into the serious issue revealed that disheartened and discouraged farmers almost expect the threat of sheep worrying affecting their flocks on a regular basis.

The NSA said the UK sheep sector is at risk of being permanently forced to live with the devastating consequences of dog attacks, with its chief executive, Phil Stocker, saying that people believe they can do what they want, and don't take into consideration the practicalities that come with dog ownership.

Mr Stocker explained this week: "I strongly believe that, as an industry, we are almost on the verge of accepting the situation, even after all the work that has been done. It's extremely frustrating and upsetting that the NSA has been working to find solutions, but that it isn't getting any better.

"We regularly hear industry bodies talk about animal welfare being important, but so many people seem to be putting sheep worrying by dogs into the, 'too difficult to deal with', category. In contrast to other welfare issues in relation to sheep, sheep worrying is the one thing completely out of farmers control and the resolution to the problem just isn't there.

"Farmers have put a lot of work into the situation to try and help, but if you look at the overall figures, it hasn't had an impact on this scourge on our industry," he argued.

In the NSA's most recent survey of more than 300 sheep farmers, 70% had experienced a sheep worrying attack in the past 12 months, with 95% of respondents experiencing up to 10 cases per year. On average, three sheep deaths were reported per attack, each year due to dogs, with an average of five sheep per attack being reported as injured.

This did not take into account production losses in sheep, including miscarriage, that were reported by almost 70% of respondents.

READ MORE: Sheep-worrying attacks in Stirlingshire

Mr Stocker also doesn't believe the Kept Animals Bill, which is currently working its way through Parliament, is going to be much help: “The Bill is well behind schedule, which is frustrating on one hand but I still don’t believe it is fit for purpose, still not requiring dogs to be on leads when in fields with sheep and suggesting maximum fines for those found guilty being limited to £1000 in England.

"This compares to a recent change of legislation in Scotland that had seen the same crime punishable with up to a £40,000 fine, or a prison sentence. This disparity must be addressed. A lack of punishment and continued varied responses from Police Rural Crime teams is frustrating farmers who are experiencing great upset as well as financial loss because of this issue.”

Mr Stocker had written to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey, and Farming Minister, Mark Spencer, voicing his concerns about the Kept Animals Bill, airing his frustration and making suggestions about how it could be more fit for purpose.

The new survey reported that farmers were taking what steps they could to protect their flocks, including displaying signs, moving sheep to areas with lower public access and working with communities via social media but unfortunately these were having little impact in improving the number of incidents.

More than 80% of respondents strongly agreed that additional powers were necessary to act as a deterrent to dog owners allowing attacks to happen.