MORE than 2,500 signatures have been collected as the campaign to protect livestock from dog attacks continues to gain momentum.

Farmer Cameron Farquharson has been campaigning for a change in the law to protect livestock from dog attacks following the tragic deaths of Gladis, his pregnant Highland cow, and her unborn calf on Thursday, May 27.

Gladis had been grazing at Eggardon Hill near Bridport when she was chased off one of the hill fort’s ramparts - suffering a fall of more than 30 feet.

Mr Farquharson and a group of local farmers have since been campaigning to change the law to ensure dog owners keep their pets on leads around livestock, in order to give farm animals more protection.

The group launched a petition last week which has already amassed around 2,550 signatures.

Mr Farquharson said: “This attack should never have happened. An act of complete negligence by someone has left this beautiful and much loved animal and her unborn calf dead and both my family and I utterly devastated.

“Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Farmers are not feeling supported by the government or the police on these matters and until they are, they’ll keep on happening. If we report these incidents to the police, they can investigate, and the figures will get added to the stats, but there’s not often a resolution, especially when the owners haven’t come forward.”

The incident wasn’t reported at the time and Gladis wasn’t found until the next day. The discovery was incredibly distressing for Mr Farquharson and his family.

Mr Farquharson added: “Had I been informed at the time, Gladis might not have languished all night in serious injury, pain and distress, and we might have been able to save her and her unborn calf."

The proposed change to the law is being supported by West Dorset MP Chris Loder, who recently worked to push the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act through Parliament, and is also campaigning to end live animal exports.

Currently it is a criminal offence for a dog to be ‘off a lead or not otherwise under close control’ in a field of livestock.

Campaigners want this changed so owners would have to put their dogs on a lead ‘whenever livestock is present’.

Mr Farquharson is calling all farmers to show their support to 'Gladis' Law' by coming forward with their own stories, and pledge their support for the bill by emailing hello@gladis-law.com.

The group behind the campaign recently launched a petition to gather support for the new law.

To sign the petition visit www.gladis-law.com