Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging people to keep their dogs on a lead around livestock.
Mr Rowlands, a dog owner, was commenting after hearing about several recent attacks on sheep in his region.
He said:
I am happy to add my voice to remind dog owners, who are walking their pets in the countryside, to make sure their animals are kept on a lead especially when near livestock.
It is heart-breaking and very sad to hear about sheep being attacked and suffering because a dog has been let loose by its owner.
We all like to get out and about as the daylight hours increase and enjoy the warmer weather but we really need to be aware of our surroundings when walking our pets.
Research conducted by NFU Mutual earlier this year revealed that distracted dog owners who believe their pets would never attack farm animals are putting sheep at risk of horrific and fatal injuries.
Their survey of over 1,100 dog owners found that despite 64% of owners admitting their dogs chase animals almost half, 46% believe their dog was not capable of injuring or killing livestock.
Many dog owners are unaware that even if their pet does not make contact with a sheep, the distress and exhaustion caused by being chased can trigger a pregnant ewe to die or miscarry. Young lambs can also be separated from their mothers.
Nearly two thirds of owners, 64% say they let their dogs roam off lead in the countryside. However, almost four in ten, 39% admit their pets do not always come back when called.
The figures based on claims data from NFU Mutual estimate that dog attacks on UK farm animals cost £1.8m in 2022.
The local countryside, parks, and coastlines in North Wales provide the perfect settings for dog walks and keeping control of pets is crucial for the protection of livestock.
Farming unions constantly urge the public to follow the countryside code which includes making sure dogs are always under complete control, especially around sheep and cattle.
Sam Rowlands AS yn annog pawb i ddilyn y cod cefn gwlad
Mae Sam Rowlands, AS Gogledd Cymru, yn annog pobl i gadw eu cŵn ar dennyn o amgylch da byw.
Roedd Mr Rowlands, sy’n berchen ar gi ei hun, yn gwneud sylw ar ôl clywed am sawl ymosodiad diweddar ar ddefaid yn ei ranbarth.
Dywedodd:
Dwi'n hapus i ychwanegu fy llais i atgoffa perchnogion cŵn, sy'n mynd a'u hanifeiliaid anwes am dro yng nghefn gwlad, i sicrhau eu bod yn cadw eu hanifeiliaid ar dennyn, yn enwedig ger da byw.
Mae'n dorcalonnus ac yn drist clywed am ddefaid yn dioddef ymosodiadau achos bod rhywun wedi gollwng ei gi yn rhydd.
Rydyn ni i gyd yn hoffi mynd allan i'r awyr iach wrth i'r dyddiau ymestyn a mwynhau'r tywydd cynhesach, ond mae gwir angen i ni fod yn ymwybodol o'n hamgylchedd wrth grwydro gyda'n hanifeiliaid anwes.
Datgelodd ymchwil gan NFU Mutual yn gynharach eleni fod perchnogion cŵn sy'n grediniol na fyddai eu hanifeiliaid anwes byth yn ymosod ar anifeiliaid fferm yn rhoi defaid mewn perygl o anafiadau erchyll ac angheuol.
Mewn arolwg o dros 1,100 o berchnogion cŵn, er bod 64% o berchnogion yn cyfaddef bod eu cŵn wedi rhedeg ar ôl anifeiliaid, doedd 46% ddim yn credu bod eu ci yn gallu anafu na lladd da byw.
Nid yw llawer o berchnogion cŵn yn ymwybodol, hyd yn oed os nad yw eu hanifail anwes yn brathu dafad, y gallai'r gofid a'r blinder a achosir gan gi yn rhedeg ar ôl dafad feichiog arwain at farwolaeth neu erthylu'r oen bach. Hefyd, maen nhw'n gallu arwain at gwahanu ŵyn bach oddi wrth eu mamau.
Mae bron i ddwy ran o dair o'r perchnogion, 64% yn dweud eu bod yn gadael i'w cŵn grwydro heb dennyn yng nghefn gwlad. Fodd bynnag, mae bron i bedwar o bob deg, 39% yn cyfaddef nad yw eu hanifeiliaid anwes bob amser yn dychwelyd wrth alw arnyn nhw.
Mae'r ffigyrau yn seiliedig ar ddata hawliadau gan NFU Mutual sy'n amcangyfrif bod ymosodiadau cŵn ar anifeiliaid fferm y DU wedi costio £1.8m yn 2022.
Mae cefn gwlad, parciau ac arfordiroedd y Gogledd yn berffaith i fynd â chŵn am dro, ac mae'n hollbwysig cadw anifeiliaid anwes dan reolaeth er mwyn diogelu da byw.
Mae'r undebau amaethyddol yn annog y cyhoedd i ddilyn y cod cefn gwlad sy'n cynnwys sicrhau bod cŵn dan reolaeth lwyr bob amser, yn enwedig o amgylch defaid a gwartheg.
