WOLFLIFE promotes the responsible use of dogs in the sheepfold

ACDB, WOLFLIFE partner, made a report about the impact of the livestock guarding dogs and stray dogs on fauna.

Information collected during the WOLFLIFE project shows that in Romania’s forests livestock guarding dogs and stray dogs have a significant impact on the wildlife.This impact manifests through both by transmitting disease, either by killing various wild species. Hunting wildlife managers often complain because attacks by unattended livestock guarding dogs, which are grouped in packs and kill adult or juvenile individuals of species such as deer, wild boar, rabbit. In these circumstances, such dogs become competitors with fauna species such as the wolf and lynx.

To solve these problems is needed that, beside strengthening the legal framework for the number of livestock guarding dogs, the breeders stop using specimens of metis dogs and use instead them traditional shepherd dogs, and also, the specimens used for security must be properly feeded, vaccinated and equipped with an wooden stick hanging from its neck, to prevent it from chasing game. In this regard, to encourage use of efficient dogs for security, in the WOLFLIFE project farmers can get Carpathian shepherd dogs.

Also, to prevent bears and wolves attacks on livestock, the WOLFLIFE project team facilitated equipping sheepfold with complex systems such as electric fences for the enclosures. These sheepfolds can be visited by other farmers who want to see the benefits of modern protection system.

The project will also develop awareness actions for people about the responsible use of dogs and demonstration campaigns for castration and treatment of wandering or stray dogs in rural areas.

The report is available here

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