THE warmer weather has brought a plea from a countryside organisation for dog walkers in Ryedale to keep their animals under strict control or on leads in the countryside and to clear up their mess.

The call comes in the midst of the lambing season when pregnant ewes can abort if they become stressed by dogs running loose.

Birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife are also at risk with their young vulnerable if parents are scared away.

Douglas Chalmers, director of policy and public affairs for CLA North, which covers Ryedale and North Yorkshire, said: “The majority of farmers and landowners are happy to welcome walkers who adhere to the Countryside Code.

“Most people are very understanding and walk with their dogs on leads near livestock – but there are some who do not even consider doing this.

“Dogs should always be under close control when walked on farmland, and unless the dog stays closely to heel this normally means that it should be on a lead. A lead should always be used when walking close to livestock.

Dog owners should also clean up their pets’ mess because of a deadly parasite which can be picked up from grass infected by dog faeces.

He said: “There may be no obvious symptoms in a dog, but the effects of the parasite neospora caninum can be devastating in cattle and there is no known treatment.

“Even if there aren’t any animals visibly grazing in a field, they may do in coming weeks, or the grass may be cut and used as feed through the winter.”

Data obtained by Freedom of Information requests to UK police forces show there were 739 dog attacks on livestock in 2012, up from 691 in 2011.

There were 537 incidents of sheep being attacked and injured in 2012 compared with 301 in 2011.