North Yorkshire Police has urged dog owners to be more responsible after an increase in attacks on livestock.

The police issued the appeal after noticing an upturn in incidents in the Harrogate area over the last week.

More people are visiting the countryside as lockdown restrictions are eased, which has led to more dog attacks on sheep.

Inspector Matt Hagan, head of North Yorkshire’s rural taskforce, said:

“Owners need to stick to the countryside code and keep their dogs under control even if that means they have to stay on a lead. You are responsible for their behaviour so keep it under control. If your dog is involved in an incident please report it as a lot of the time the owner may see no-one and just head off but they do have a duty to report it.

“If you’re out and about and see anything please report it too because it’s difficult following these kinds of reports up, but if you report it at the time and it’s more likely we can do something.”

The police are asking dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs when out walking them in the countryside.

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One of the incidents reported to the police this month involved a husky which managed to run through a fence and chase sheep. Police officers were called to an incident on July 12 near Thruscross Reservoir, near Harrogate, by a farmer who reported a dog had attacked a lamb on his land.

The farmer accepted an apology from the dog’s owner and the police issued a community resolution. North Yorkshire’s rural police force are keen to highlight the financial and emotional impact these attacks can have on their livelihoods.

Harrogate’s “puppy boom” during lockdown has seen local people set up new businesses to capitalise on the new market.

More dogs and the needs of new pet owners has been the driving force for several new start-ups in Harrogate.

With more people working from home the number of puppy sales has increased. This is good news for local entrepreneurs who have been able to set up new businesses to work with the new dogs in the district.

New puppies increases the need for training, grooming and accessories – this has given a boost to business for three local business owners.

Holly Hamp has opened up Dog Spa Harrogate:

“I was working in a kennels and a lot of people aren’t going on holiday so it turned into the right time right place. There are a lot of people doing the same thing. People have been getting dogs over lockdown but there are concerns with that too. There has been a puppy boom which means people need their dogs grooming and walking especially as they return to work.”

Charlotte Wilson has put her work as a makeup artist on pause so instead set up a business making personalised dog accessories. She said:

“Its all based around personalisation anything from dog treats, bowls, treat baskets. It has been really successful, I didn’t think it would go that well. I am wanting to grow it with staff, eventually we hope to sell more each day to employ people that had lost their jobs. A lot of people have just got a new dog so want to spoil it with new products. People are just mad about them! I’d never tried it before but I have three dogs and I thought what do I love and that was dogs, so I ordered the printer and set it all up.”

Katie Bell has resumed her career as a dog trainer after seeing a niche for owners with new puppies over lockdown.

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Katie Bell has trained as a dog behaviouralist but worked as a dog walker until lockdown when she saw a niche for new owners needing to train their dogs. She said:

“Since lockdown I knew there would be a lot of dogs needing help specifically with separation anxiety as their owners return to work. I am getting another dog soon so I have set up a facebook group to provide regular training videos for people to follow at home. My enquiries have massively increased, I think since people have been at home more they have realised their dog or new puppy has behavioural issues. Now the rules have eased I am able to do training in people’s gardens or indoors and I think that will only increase.”

Holly Hamp has set up a dog groomers in Harrogate after seeing the need for dog services grow.