A new research project is underway looking at the collection of offending dog DNA from attacked livestock.
The Canine DNA Recovery Project is working with farmers and the police and aims to develop best practice methods for the collection and analysis of canine DNA from attacked livestock and wildlife.
The new research project is being led by Dr Nick Dawnay from Liverpool John Moores University, forming part of the Canine DNA Recovery Project.
Dr Dawnay said: “Our rural crime police can’t always attend scenes in a timely manner so quite often no forensic sample is collected from the injured or deceased livestock.
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"The timing of sample collection is important as the DNA of an offending dog will not last long on an animal exposed to the elements or on a dead carcass that has been disturbed or moved.”
This led Dr Dawnay to develop early evidence kits so that, in the event of a livestock attack, a forensic sample can be collected at the crime scene by police, vets and farmers.
The kits will enable canine DNA to be collected in minutes at the scene of the attack, with samples then handed to the police.
They will be distributed across 10 regions in England and Wales this summer via participating police forces, NFU Mutual, the National Sheep Association, and NFU Cymru.
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