Dog attacks on livestock: insights from Swedish news articles and experiences of farmers and inspectors

Dog attacks impact both animal welfare and societal interests. The farmers expressed emotional distress after the dog attacks. Misidentification can worsen wolf-related conflicts and misdirect public funds, while livestock owners may face economic losses despite the dog owner's sole responsibility. Further research is needed to assess dog attacks on livestock nationwide. However, targeted measures such as predator-deterrent fencing, prolonged mandatory leashing of dogs, and enhanced monitoring of grazing livestock during hunting seasons could already be implemented.